BJP's Baijayant Panda dismisses Chinese envoy's comment on Kashmir

Speaking to the media, BJP leader and former Member of Parliament Baijayant Panda dismissed China’s comments on the Kashmir issue as "not new". He stated that it was an “internal” matter of the country. Panda added that India’s External Affairs Ministry was dealing with the matter according to established norms. Highlighting the fact that Pakistan had invaded Kashmir, he also mentioned that a part of that captured territory had been given away to China. He was reacting to the Chinese envoy to Islamabad, Yao Jing, who reportedly said that his country would back Pakistan for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. 

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"Chinese comments are not a new thing. The most shocking thing is that Pakistan having invaded Kashmir and illegally occupied a portion and a part of that portion has been given to China," Panda said.  

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‘Mutual interest in trade and commerce’ 

He spoke about the shared interests between both India and China, who share a large border. Furthermore, he opined that the hiccups in the relationship would be taken care of. According to Panda, the two nations would find a solution and move ahead. 

He observed, "We have a relationship with China as well, large border and shared interests in security issues. We have a mutual interest in trade and commerce. China earlier said that it will not interfere in the Kashmir issue. India has made it clear that Kashmir is our internal matter. Our Foreign Ministry is dealing with the issue. Between China and India, paths will be found to move forward. Little hiccups like this will be taken care of.” 

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The scrapping of special status 

In early August, a Presidential order combined with the passage of effective legislation in both Houses of the Parliament led to the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Besides this, the state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Since then, a lot of restrictions were imposed in the region. Pakistan has been desperately trying to internationalise the issue by influencing China. However, these attempts fell flat as neither did the United Nations Security Council take this up formally nor did the UN Human Rights Council pass any resolution in this regard.  

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(With ANI inputs)