J&K our internal matter, not for other countries to comment: MEA reacts to China's U-turn on Kashmir

India on Wednesday reacted to reports of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan discussing Kashmir saying, "China is well aware of our position. It is not for other countries to comment on the internal affairs of India."
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We have seen the report regarding meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan which also refers to their discussions on Kashmir."
"India’s position has been consistent and clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," Kumar said
China is well aware of our position. It is not for other countries to comment on the internal affairs of India," Raveesh Kumar said.
Imran Khan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with China President Xi Jinping ahead of his important visit to India.
His visit to China comes amidst high tensions between Pakistan and India after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 to end the special status of J&K on August 5.
Xi Jinping, who is scheduled to hold the second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, assured Imran Khan during the meeting that the friendship between China and Pakistan is "unbreakable and rock-solid" despite changes in the international and regional situation.
"China supports Pakistan to safeguard its legitimate interests and



hopes relevant parties can solve the dispute via peaceful dialogue," a local media channel quoted Xi Jinping as telling Imran Khan.
"The Pakistan side briefed the Chinese side on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including its concerns, position, and current urgent issues," said a joint press release issued at the end of Khan's visit to Beijing.
"The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements," the release said.
"China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation. The two sides underlined that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia was in common interest of all parties. Parties need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect," it added.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Tuesday had said the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally, significantly omitting its recent references to the UN and UN Security Council resolutions.
Geng Shuang's comments marked a significant shift in what China has been saying on Kashmir in recent weeks in the aftermath of India's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution.