- By Talib Khan
- Wed, 02 Oct 2019 12:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Voicing fears of several other countries following India’s move to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir -- stripping its temporary special status -- the United States of America on Tuesday said that “unless Pakistan keep a close watch on terror groups on its soil, the Pakistani terrorists can launch attacks on India”.
Responding to a question on prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan after India nullified the Article 370 and 35a and China’s stand on the issue, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Randall Shriver, in Washington said, “I think many have concerns that Pakistan keep a lid on terror groups that might conduct cross-border activities as a result of the Kashmir decisions, and I don't sense that China wants that kind of conflict or would support that”, as quoted by news agency PTI.
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"I think it (China's support to Pakistan on Kashmir) is mostly diplomatic and political support," Shriver added.
"They (Chinese) have supported Pakistan in the international fora. There is some discussion about whether or not Kashmir would be taken up in the UN, China would support that. But in terms of something beyond that or more active, I don't see it," the top Pentagon official said as quoted by news agency PTI.
He also emphasized on the long-standing relationship of Pakistan and China and the earlier instances of China supporting Pakistan on several international forums, he said that China has a warm relation with Pakistan and simultaneously they have an ever-increasing competition with India. In that case, India seeks a stable relationship with China.
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"We have talked about the relationship with China. They want a stable relationship with China, but there's no doubt that there is growing concern and competition there as well. So I think on a range of issues to include Kashmir, China has leaned toward Pakistan," Shriver said.
He also said that the US is having a consultation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a trip to Washington.
In the recently concluded 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan should be resolved as per United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
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Responding to the reference of Kashmir by China in the UNGA, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs, Rajeev Kumar said, “China is well aware of the fact that Kashmir is solely an internal matter of India and both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an internal part of India”.
He also said that other countries should respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and desist from efforts to change the status quo.
