Kashmir Issue At UNSC A Tension De- Escalator Cum Goodwill Gesture, Claims China: India Needs To Reciprocate By Raising The Tibetan Independence Issue
How sweet of the peace loving Government of China. They care tremendously about peace and harmony in entire Asia. So much so that even when they themselves are immersed in neck deep trouble while forcefully suppressing dissent in Hong Kong, terrorizing the Muslim Quighers population in Xhinjiang region and suppressing the freedom movement in forcibly captured Tibet, still they are worried about peace in Asia. They are ever ready to diffuse tension between India and Pakistan over the so called Kashmir issue.
The State of Jammu & Kashmir an integral part of India has been recently bifurcated into Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladhak. A part of UT of J& K is under illegal occupation of Pakistan along with a part of UT of Ladhak. Also a part of UT of Ladhak is under illegal occupation of China.
This bifurcation is totally an internal matter of the Indian State. However Pakistan, has been laying claim on J& K since 1947 and has imposed State sponsored terrorism within J&K since 1990. Now it has gone hyper over the bifurcation issue and has been threatening war ever since.
Right after the bifurcation in August 2019, China had criticised New Delhi for making Ladakh a union territory. China lays claim over several parts of Ladakh. It had then tried to raise the issue within the UNSC but was soundly rebuffed by all the other members.
Now once again China, Pakistan’s ‘all-weather ally’, on Wednesday made a few fresh pitch to raise the Kashmir issue under “other matters” during a closed meeting in the UN Security Council Consultations Room.
To the horror of Beijing, it’s latest attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at the UNSC on Pakistan’s behalf has failed once again, with an overwhelming majority of the 15-member body expressing the view that it was not the right forum to discuss the bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
In spite of the above, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang has been defending the Chinese decision to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council as an attempt to de-escalate India-Pakistan tensions out of “goodwill”. Shuang further claimed that most of the members of the Council have voiced their concern over the situation in the Valley.
As to why China was backing Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue in the UNSC, Shuang said, “China’s position is consistent and clear. This issue is a dispute left from history and should be properly resolved following the UN charter, UNSC resolutions, and bilateral treaties and in a peaceful way.”
He further added that “As requested by Pakistan, the Security Council reviewed the Kashmir issue on 15 January. The Security Council members are concerned about the current situation and they called the relevant parties to observe the charter and resolve disputes peacefully, through political dialogue and exercise restraint and work on de-escalation.”
Replying to a question on why only China, among all the members, is making such claims, whereas no other member of the body has spoken about it, Geng said, “Indeed the UNSC reviewed the Kashmir issue on 15 January and there was no statement.
But China as a permanent member participated in the review meeting and what I said was in line with the review. But if you think this is not true then you can look at other sources.” Though he could not name any other country as supporting China on the issue.
On one hand top leaders of India and China have been making efforts to improve relations through informal summits and now the Chinese Government has created a negative perception by taking the issue of J&k to the UNSC.
This has again been defended by the shameless Shuang by stating “Because we want to work for de-escalation and work for regional peace and stability. This is out of goodwill. However, if the Indian side interprets it in other way, that will be a wrong interpretation.”
Shuang has blatantly denied changing China’s past stand on the Kashmir issue that the issue should be peacefully resolved between India and Pakistan. Instead he said that Beijing’s position on Kashmir was very clear “We haven’t changed our position.
The issue between India and Pakistan has always been on the UNSC agenda. The UNSC should pay attention to the issue in Kashmir based on the latest developments. And in this region, there are still International Observer Groups and it has always been on UNSC agenda.”
At a press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, while replying to questions about the developments in the UNSC, said the overwhelming majority of the UNSC was of the view that it was not the right forum for such issues. Pakistan’s attempt to peddle baseless allegations and show an alarming scenario failed as it lacked credibility.
As India too is equally concerned with world peace, we need to reciprocate the Chinese concern in full. The current situation in Hong Kong and Xhinjiang and calls for restraint and de-escalation of tensions through dialogue. India should be ready to mediate between the opposing sides so that both parties can sit together for a talk.
India should also urge China to stop dreaming regarding forcible merger of Taiwan with China. Taiwan is an independent Sovereign country and all threats by China will be resisted not only by the brave Taiwanese but also by USA and rest of the world.
India should also take the Tibetan freedom issue to the UNSC. Tibet was forcefully occupied in late 1950s and since then has been striving for independence. Now time has come for India to help the Tibetan Government in Exile to take up the case to the United Nations.
As a responsible country India should remain in contact with both Beijing and the Tibetan Government in Exile and thus play a constructive role between these two neighbours of ours.
We need to enhance dialogue and mutual trust between China, the Quighars people, the Tibetan people and even the Taiwanese people. All must exercise restraint and work for de-escalation of tensions.
