China tells India it favours direct Indo-Pak talks

Ajay Kaul
Geneva, Nov 22 (PTI) After being snubbed, China has
conveyed to India that it has no intention of playing a broker
in Indo-Pak relations and favours direct talks between them.
Beijing has communicated to New Delhi that it respects
its stance that there was no role for any third party in
mediation of Indo-Pak affairs, Indian government sources said.
China has said there is no change in its position that
Indo-Pak relations are bilateral in nature, according to
sources accompanying Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
his way to Washington.
India was annoyed when a Sino-US joint statement, issued
after talks between President Barack Obama and President Hu
Jintao in Beijing last week, made a mention of Indo-Pak
relations.
India has made it clear that it is not ready to accept
"guardianship" of anybody, whether China, the US or any other
country, even if mild-handed.
With regard to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
seeking to give China a role on Kashmir issue, the Indian
government sources were dismissive, saying he was trying to
find a place for himself and emerge as a "great mediator".
"Mirwaiz is trying to bring K-word (in China context)
which does not exist," a source said referring to the Hurriyat
leader's contention Saturday that China has a link with
Kashmir issue as Aksai Chin, part of the state, is under its
control.
The sources maintained that he was free to travel to
China but on proper visa. PTI AKK
ANU