India, Pakistan Should Work Like Brothers to Solve Kashmir Issue, Says Former Chinese Envoy

New Delhi: A top Chinese diplomat has called upon India and Pakistan to "work like brothers and solve the Kashmir dispute bilaterally." Sun Yuxi, a Chinese diplomat who has served both in India and Afghanistan refused to comment on the recent terror strike in Uri and Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir saying it’s a problem that has to be solved bilaterally between the two countries and China wanted to promote good relations between the two.

The ex-envoys comments make China’s position on terrorism emanating from Pakistan crystal clear. Speaking to CNN-News18 about Pakistan-sponsored terror, Sun said, “Pakistan is fighting very hard and they have made many sacrifices in tackling terror and both Afghanistan and Pakistan are helping China fight the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM)." The ETIM is an Islamic terror and separatist organization founded by Uyghur militants in Western China. Its goal is freedom of East Turkistan from China and the diplomat’s statement explains the strategic importance Pakistan holds for China.

When asked why China didn’t allow the BRICS declaration to include Pakistan-based terror groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the diplomat said "I don’t know about that but, I have many friends in Pakistan, they are all resolutely fighting against terror. Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani army and the local police have been fighting terror for many years and made many sacrifices." He also said the international community acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts to fight terror.

The Chinese diplomat also refused to comment on the surgical strikes carried out by India on terror camps across the LoC. However, the diplomat said, “Kashmir was a deep rooted problem over which India and Pakistan had fought three wars. He made it clear that China would not come to India’s rescue as this was an issue that had to be solved bilaterally."

Reacting to Sun Yuxi’s comments India’s former envoy to Pakistan G Parthasarthy told CNN-News18, “China is now becoming an apologist for Pakistan-sponsored terror. Pakistan’s policy is to fight terrorists whom it trained but turned against the government and the army. Let alone fighting terrorists, Pakistan army has used terror as an instrument of state policy by arming and training groups like the Haqqani network, Jaish-e-Mohammed and LeT against India and Afghanistan."

What came as a setback for the Indian government was that a day after Prime Minister Modi tried to isolate Pakistan at the BRICS and BIMSTEC Summits, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said it’s wrong to link any country or religion to terror.

Strongly defending Pakistan the spokesperson said, “Both India and Pakistan are victims of terror. Pakistan has made a lot of sacrifices to fight terror." This shows that despite India’s repeated appeals China has chosen to side with its all-weather ally Pakistan. China’s stand on Pakistan based terror groups will be further clear on 31st December when its technical hold on the proposal to put JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar on the UN Sanctions list comes to an end. China will have to decide whether or not it allows India’s proposal.