It is for the first time that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has accused China of meddling in the state. Mehbooba's assertion of China's role comes after the state seeing a daring terrorist attack on the Amarnath yatra pilgrims, claiming seven lives.
The attack may not have had anything directly to do with China. But it was the worst attack on the annual pilgrimage since the year 2001, which appears to have brought about a big change in Mehbooba's approach and style.
Mehbooba rushed to the aid of the victims and their families, saying "this incident is a blot on all Kashmiris and Muslims. We will not keep quite till we bring the culprits to book." Central officials saw her style was a "hands-on approach" in handling the aftermath of the incident.
The last time the Amarnath yatra was targeted was in 2001 when terrorists had struck in the Sheshnag area close to the holy cave of Amarnath, killing 13 people. Prior to that, terrorists had attack Amarnath pilgrims on August 1, 2000 in Pahalgam area, killing 30 people, who also included porters.
By naming China, Mehbooba has conveyed that her party sees eye-to-eye now with the Centre on the evolving situation in the Kashmir Valley. Her assertion on China came after it said was ready to negotiate between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, an offer that was promptly rejected by New Delhi.
The rare Chinese comments on the Kashmir issue itself was seen as a follow-up to what a Chinese analyst wrote in the state-run Global Times. Long Xingchun, Director at the Centre for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, had said in an article that a "third country's" Army could enter Kashmir at Pakistan's request, using the "logic" the Indian Army used to stop the Chinese military from constructing the road in Doklam area.
What has irked India is that China has defended Pakistan at every single forum when it has been identified as the biggest source of terrorism in Kashmir. China has blocked India's attempt at the UN for sanctions against Jash-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, who has allegedly masterminded several terror attacks in India.
India has objected to China building China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), which passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India considers the project as China's interference in India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mehbooba's reaction now is seen as a contrast to her remarks in March this year when she came out in support of the CPEC, saying it’s time to “move beyond border skirmishes” to be partners in economic growth.
Published 15 July 2017, 16:52 IST