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China for involving Pakistan in Kashmir talks: PTI

Anil K Joseph in Beijing

While ruling out a role for itself as a mediator, China hoped that India also involve Pakistan as well as the international community to peacefully resolve the Kashmir issue.

"The Pakistani side has already said that they are willing to talk about any issue. May be the Indian side could also include the Pakistani side in the talks," Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while commenting on the recent talks between India and the Hizbul Mujahideen which excluded Pakistan.

Expounding China's stand, Wang noted that the Kashmir issue has long stalemated. "I think the only way out is the peaceful settlement with the help from the international community," he said, indicating a possible change in Beijing's stand.

India has firmly ruled out third party involvement in the resolution of the issue.

China's official media has come out with a series of articles recently, saying that the Kashmir issue involves three parties: India, the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.

"What is more important right now is that the two sides should find a way to really work it out. As a neighbour to India and Pakistan, China will only make positive efforts to help you and not to the contrary," Wang said.

"As neighbour to both India and Pakistan, China's position is very clear: we wish the two sides could sit down and talk so that this issue could be worked out through peaceful means," Wang said.

"China does not wish to be the mediator between the two countries nor I think does India wish to have any third party to get involved as a mediator," he said.

"But we do wish to see that you two sides could sit down and have talks. I believe the peaceful settlement of this issue will not only reduce tension there which will do good not only to the two countries but also to the development of South Asia," he said.

Commenting on China's stand on terrorism, Wang said that as a principle, the Chinese side stands firmly against any form of international terrorism.

He also acknowledged that the security of China is also under threat from 'three forces' - religious extremist, ethnic separatist and international terrorist.

Wang pointed out to China's efforts to combat international terrorism through the 'Shanghai five' grouping which includes China, Russia and three other central Asian nations.

"One of the important components is to find a way that the five countries could join hands to cope with the 'three forces.' We are also working with the international community to fight international terrorism," he said.

PTI

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