Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin
Says India’s Unilateral Move In Kashmir ‘Illegal, Invalid’
Beijing: China on Wednesday hoped that India and Pakistan can “properly” handle their differences through dialogue, improve relations and jointly safeguard peace, stability and development of both the countries and the wider region.
Responding to a question raised by a Pakistani correspondent on the completion of one-year of the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two union territories–Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh–Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said peaceful coexistence between India and Pakistan serves the fundamental interests of both the countries and the international community.
“China closely follows the situation in the Kashmir region. Our position is consistent and clear. This issue is a dispute left over from history between Pakistan and India. That is an objective fact established by UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India,” he said.
“Any unilateral change to the status quo is illegal and invalid. This issue should be properly resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation between the parties concerned,” he told a regular foreign ministry briefing here. China last year had called the Indian move as “unacceptable”.
“Pakistan and India are neighbours that cannot be moved away. Peaceful coexistence serves the fundamental interests of both and the common aspiration of the international community.”
“China hopes that they can properly handle the differences through dialogue, improve relations and jointly safeguard peace, stability and development of both countries and the wider region,” the spokesman added.
The comments by the spokesman came amid the border face-off between India and China in eastern Ladakh.
Kashmir Annexation Does Not Contribute To Peace: Turkey
The annexation of Jammu and Kashmir does not contribute to peace and stability in the region, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday on the occasion of the first anniversary of India’s decision of revoking the seven-decade-long semi-autonomous status of the Himalayan region.
“It is observed that practices implemented over the last year — since the abolishment of the article [370] of the Indian constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir — have further complicated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and not served to peace and stability in the region,” said Hami Aksoy in a statement.
Aksoy further reiterated Turkey’s call for dialogue to resolve the issue under the UN charters and resolutions.
On Aug. 5 last year, the Indian government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two Union Territories. The move was followed by a communication blockade and a harsh crackdown during which thousands of people, including three former Chief Ministers were detained.
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