Beijing, MTT News Desk: China has said that if the Kashmir dispute is not handled carefully by India, it may have negative impact on Beijing’s bilateral relations with India. However, it said that China had no intentions to meddle in the dispute. The statement was given by the Spokesman and the DG of the Information Department of Ministry of Defence, Senior Col Geng Yansheng, while talking to a group of visiting journalists from India. Maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan, China has also expressed the hope that the two countries will be able to resolve the issue bilaterally and peacefully. "Our stand is clear. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed area between India and Pakistan. It is a sensitive issue. China is handling this sensitive issue carefully to avoid any misunderstanding.” 

It was in this context that Beijing refused permission to General Officer in Command of the Udhampur based Northern Command of Lt Gen B S Jaswal to visit China in August 2010, which triggered a major diplomatic row between India and China. Sr Col Yansheng said, India and China are two major emerging powers in the world and it is in their benefit to work together for the promotion of peace and tranquillity in the world. Kashmir is one of the oldest unresolved disputes in the list of UN. The dispute arose when India entered its troops into Kashmir in late 40s and claimed that the whole state of Jammu & Kashmir is part of India. Pakistan, on the other side, refused to accept Indian claims on Kashmir. After India invaded into Kashmir, Pakistan also ordered its armed forces to respond to the enemy forces. With the help of tribals, Pakistan freed Gilgit, Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir from Indian occupation. However, after the ceasefire agreed by both countries, the remaining part of Jammu & Kashmir remained under Indian occupation since then. China always favoured Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir. Recently, China stopped giving visas to the residents of Occupied State of Jammu & Kashmir (OSJK) on Indian passports. But, on the other hands, residents of Gilgit, Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) are given visas on Pakistani passports. China's recent statement that Jammu & Kashmir is a disputed territory between Pakistan and India, shows that China consider Kashmir a legitimate part of Pakistan. 

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