'Terror attack blot on Kashmiris, Muslims'

It is for the first time that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has accused China of meddling in the state. Mehbooba’s assertion of China’s role follows an attack on Amarnath pligrims. The attack may not have had anything to do with China “directly”.

But it was the worst attack on the annual pilgrimage since 2001, which appears to have brought about a big change in Mehbooba’s approach. Mehbooba rushed to the aid of the victimes and their families, saying, “This incident is a blot on all Kashmiris and Muslims. We will not keep quiet till we bring the culprits to book.” 

Central officials termed this a “hands-on approach” in handling the situation. By naming China, Mehbooba has conveyed that her party now sees eye-to-eye with the Centre on the evolving situation in the Kashmir Valley. Her assertion on China came after it said it 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 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” that India 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 Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, who has masterminded several terror attacks in India.

India has objected to China building the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor, which passes through PoK. India considers the project as China’s interference in India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
DH News Service