Pakistan has suffered another major setback since the withdrawal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. This time Pakistan has been shocked by China close to it. China said on Tuesday that the Kashmir issue would not be discussed during the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. China has termed it as a bilateral issue of India and Pakistan.
On 5 August, the Government of India decided to remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and divide it into two parts. Tensions had escalated in the two countries since then. Pakistan's diplomatic relations with India were snapped by this decision and sent the Indian High Commissioner back to India. A senior Chinese official said that Modi and Xi will decide on which issue they want to discuss.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, 'I don't think the Kashmir issue will be discussed during the meeting of the two leaders. I think it should be left to the two leaders on which issue they want to discuss. I feel that for such an informal summit, both the leaders should give more time for discussion. '
Pakistan, with China's help, tried to raise the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council last month. China and Pakistan were disappointed in this closed door meeting. Hua, while replying on the Kashmir issue, said that China always considers Kashmir as a matter between India and Pakistan. He said, "India and Pakistan will resolve this issue through friendly and peaceful dialogue."
