China says it will support Pakistan ‘upholding its rights’ in Kashmir row with India
- Beijing urges calm after Indian government moves to strip disputed territory of its special status but offers support to its Pakistani ally
- Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tells counterpart Wang Yi that he is confident China will ‘uphold justice’ on this issue
China has said it would support Pakistan defending its “legitimate rights and interests” in the Kashmir crisis during an emergency visit by the country’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday night.
The meeting in Beijing between Qureshi and his counterpart Wang Yi came ahead of a visit by the Indian foreign minister on Monday and was the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings between China and Pakistan since India moved to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Qureshi briefed Wang on Pakistan’s position and potential responses to the situation, and said he had faith that China would “uphold justice on the Kashmir issue,” according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.
Wang said China was “seriously concerned” about the recent escalation of the situation, and called for dialogue between Pakistan and India to maintain peace in South Asia.
“China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and continue to preside over justice for Pakistan on the international stage,” he said.