Beijing: China on Friday called on India and Pakistan to resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation as Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived here to seek Beijing's support after New Delhi revoked the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Informed sources here said Shah Mahmood Qureshi is in Beijing to seek all-weather ally China’s support for Pakistan's efforts to ratchet-up the Kashmir issue.
Earlier this week, India revoked Article 370 to withdraw the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two UTs - Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh.
Pakistan termed the Indian action as “unilateral and illegal”, and said it will take the matter to the UN Security Council.
Reacting to questions about Pakistan's decision, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “China has noted the relevant statement by Pakistan”.
“We call on Pakistan and India to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation and jointly uphold regional peace,” it said in a written response. “The priority is that the relevant party should stop unilaterally changing the status quo and avoid escalation of tension,” China said without directly referring India revoking article 370.
China on August 6 objected to the formation of Ladakh as UT , saying it undermined its territorial sovereignty.
Qureshi's visit comes ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's three-day trip here starting from August 11 during which he is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
