Sept. 2: China on Friday said it had no intention to interfere in the Kashmir issue as it dismissed reports of presence of up to 11,000 PLA troops in Gilgit in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, but made it clear that it was not reviewing its stance on stapled visas to Kashmiris.
“As a neighbour and friend of both countries, China believes that the (Kashmir) issue should be left to the two countries so that it could be properly handled through dialogue and consultation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told a media briefing.
Clarifying on the Kashmir issue, the spokesperson said, “About Kashmir issue our position is that we believe it is an issue left over from history between India and Pakistan”.
She rejected reports that up to 11,000 soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army were in Gilgit in northern Kashmir, saying: “The story that China has deployed its military in northern part of Pakistan is totally groundless and out of ulterior purpose”. Her comments came in response to a New York Times opinion piece last week which said that 11,000 PLA men had been deployed in Gilgit-Baltistan area to build up its rail and road access to the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.
The report said that the troops had been deployed to safeguard the project as well as use them for working on the railway link across the Karakorams.
“Some people are fabricating reports to destroy relations between China, Pakistan and India. But their efforts will get nowhere,” Ms Jiang said.