*ISLAMABAD: *A Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson on Thursday saidthat Kashmir was an issue left over from history between India and Pakistanand hoped that the two countries would engage in friendly dialogue andconsultation to resolve this and other outstanding issues.
“China’s position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent. This is anissue left over from history between India and Pakistan,” Lu Kang saidduring his routine briefing while responding to a question.
“We hope that the two sides will engage in friendly dialogue andconsultations and resolve this and other relating issues,” he added.
The spokesperson was asked to comment that the youngster who carried outthe Pulwama attack was born and raised in Indian Occupied Kashmir and wassubjected to torture and detention by Indian troops, deployed in OccupiedKashmir which was a disputed territory and the people were fighting fortheir right to the self-determination, granted by the United NationsSecurity Council’s Resolutions.
To a question, he said that China put a technical hold on the UN SecurityCouncil 1267 Committee on Wednesday to properly handle the listing issue,adding the committee had clear standards and procedures on the issue.
He explained that China had conducted a thorough and in-depth assessment ofthe application moved by France, the UK, and the US and added, “We stillneed more time so that we put a technical hold and this is in line with thenew rules of the committee.”
The spokesperson remarked that China sincerely hoped that relevant actionstaken by this committee would help relevant countries engage in dialogueand consultation to resolve this problem and prevent adding morecomplicated factors into regional peace and stability.
“China will continue to adopt a constructive and responsible attitude andcommunicate and coordinate with all sides to properly handle this issue,”he added.
When asked that there were expectations in India from China, particularlyafter a meeting between President Xi and PM Modi in Wuhan last year, hesaid China with full sincerity, was ready to work with India to move on theconsensus of the two leaders for great progress in bilateral relations.
“As to technical hold on the 1267 Committee, our action is to make sure thecommittee will have enough time to study the matter and relevant sidescould have enough time to hold dialogue and consultation,” he added.
He; however, repeated his earlier position that only a solution that wasacceptable to all sides could fundamentally provide a chance for a lastingsolution of the issue.
“China is ready to communicate and coordinate with all sides includingIndia to properly handle this issue,” he said.