China to discuss Pakistan-India tension in Islamabad

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - China’s Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou is en route to Pakistan for discussions on recent Indian-Pakistani tensions, Beijing said on Wednesday.

"He (Kong) is now visiting Pakistan. He is in communication with Pakistan on the India-Pakistan situation," Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a media briefing in the Chinese capital.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said on March 2 that China planned to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India, though this had not been confirmed on the Chinese side.

"His visit is designed for communication with Pakistan for the situation concerning both India and Pakistan. China has been promoting peace and stability in this region. We hope that Pakistan and India will maintain friendly relations," Lu said.

Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Feb. 14 militant strike in Indian-administered Kashmir which killed 44 Indian troopers and was claimed by banned militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

While India claimed to have targeted “militant camps”, Pakistan arrested one Indian pilot and claimed of downing two Indian jets.

In late February, an Indian pilot was held in Pakistan after his aircraft was downed in a dogfight with Pakistani jets along the disputed border with Kashmir.

Amid the escalating tensions between two nuclear-armed countries, world powers offered help to defuse the situation.

China, which has positive diplomatic ties with Islamabad, urged India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" and asked New Delhi to carry out its fight against "terrorism" through international cooperation.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.

On Wednesday, Lu said Pakistan has been making efforts to combat terrorism.

"We also hope relevant parties will create an enabling atmosphere to help Pakistan to cooperate with other parties to form synergy," he said.