Beijing/Islamabad: Pakistan and its friend China have once again raised their voice on the Kashmir issue. As always, Pakistan raised the issue of Kashmir with China in bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. After this, both the countries also issued a joint statement on this. Both the countries themselves have lamented how Pakistan is helpless due to the removal of Article 370 from Kashmir and how China is feeling weak due to Ladakh becoming a separate state.
While Pakistan made an indirect reference to the abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir and expressed its helplessness by calling it a unilateral action, China said on the issue of making Ladakh a separate state that Beijing's sovereignty has been weakened by this. Following this, China and Pakistan reiterated their opposition to this unilateral action and called for resolution of all outstanding issues in the region. The China-Pakistan joint statement issued regarding the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to Islamabad mentioned his declared position on the Kashmir issue. It was also said that it should be resolved in accordance with relevant international laws and bilateral agreements.
Chinese Prime Minister Li was in Islamabad to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit that concluded on Wednesday. He had reached Islamabad early to hold bilateral talks and meetings with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership amid increasing incidents of terrorist attacks on Chinese citizens.
China inaugurates international airport in Gwadar, Pakistan
During this, Chinese PM Li also inaugurated the Gwadar International Airport built by Beijing. This is the first visit of a Chinese Prime Minister to Pakistan in eleven years. His visit came amid growing concerns in Beijing over repeated attacks by Baloch militants on Chinese nationals working in several projects under the US$60 billion CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor). The China-Pakistan joint statement said: “Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and reiterated the need to resolve all outstanding disputes and oppose any unilateral action.”
China gave statement on Kashmir dispute
What shock did China face due to Ladakh becoming a separate state?
PM Modi's decision to make Ladakh a separate state was not just like that, because neighboring country China is shocked by this. China itself has told where PM Modi's decision in the SCO summit has hit China. China has expressed its objection to making Ladakh a Union Territory, saying that this has weakened its territorial sovereignty. He said, “China and Pakistan are strategic partners and they have an unbreakable friendship. (Language)
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