Separatists make contact with China to ‘discuss’ Kashmir
The chief of Kashmir’s moderate separatist alliance recently met a Chinese delegation in Geneva, the first such contact by Kashmiri separatists with Chinese officials since a simmering discontent against Indian rule broke out in 1989.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, met the Chinese Director Foreign Affairs, Ying Gang, in Geneva on the sidelines of the 13th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council and discussed Beijing’s possible role in the resolution of the dispute.
“It was a good gesture as the government of China had earlier avoided meeting us,” Farooq said.
According to Farooq, the Chinese official expressed support for the resolution of Kashmir problem “as per the wishes and aspirations” of people of the disputed region.
“Our country supports resumption of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan. China wants the two countries to take steps towards the resolution of Kashmir,” the Mirwaiz quoted Gang as saying.
Adding to New Delhi’s discomfiture over involving China in Kashmir, Farooq also urged the Chinese official to start academic research projects in Chinese universities to create awareness about the long-running Kashmir conflict.
The meeting may irritate New Delhi, which is angered at any hint that Kashmir is not part of India.
Is India bending over backwards to please China?
India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the government of a “craven” and “slavish” attitude to China.
The BJP and others argue that the coalition government has failed to prevent repeated Chinese incursions along the disputed border, from Ladakh in the northwest to Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast.
And by trying to muzzle the Dalai Lama and close down Delhi during the Olympic torch relay, it has shown weakness, which will only encourage China to throw its weight around more.
There is also concern about the modernisation of the Chinese army, and the steady improvement of road and rail links in Tibet which are altering the military balance of power. Then there is talk of fresh Chinese claims to the northern tip of Sikkim.
“Given the growing perception that the UPA government lacks resolve… it is no surprise that Beijing has put the historically undisputed border with Sikkim back into contestation,” the Indian Express wrote in an editorial. Bharat Bhushan in the Mail Today said India had bent over backwards to China without any apparent dividend, while Brahma Chellaney argues China is trying to tie India down in the Himalayas “in order to avert the rise of a peer rival in Asia”.
But does India have any choice but quiet diplomacy? Should India swallow its pride and keep China happy over the Tibet question, even put up with a bit of border wrangling, and concentrate on the bigger picture?
Trade ties are booming and India stands to gain from a closer relationship with China, after all.
As far as the trade is concerned i personally feel that China will continue its relation the way it is now. When it comes to the border issue the Indian Govt should not step back. This can be solved with diplomats having more talks with the Chinese Govt regarding the border issue.Making the Chinese understand that we are not very pleased with the incursion in the East of Ladakh regions and the demand of areas in Arunachal Pradesh should serve the purpose.
How about china in a need of resolving it’s TIBET issues,
That’s what they rightly call it in KASHMIRI “PANAS PER PER BAKIYAN TABAB”.
So go China Go & Stop talking to Mr. Mirwaiz, Resolve your internal conflicts then come to MARKET OF POLITICS.
RIP Kashmir Issue!