Pak turns to China to help solve Kashmir issue

Pakistan reportedly wants China to play the role of a silent third party mediator with India in helping resolve the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan has in the past, without success, tried to draw the United States and the European Union to play active roles.

As China and India move towards stronger bilateral ties and cooperation, Pakistan is keen to take advantage of the prevailing conducive atmosphere, a Pakistani official said.

'India knows that China is the future great power with which it has to be on good terms. As Pakistan attaches great importance to relations with Beijing, it sees a role for its old friend in the settlement of Kashmir conflict,' The Nation reported, quoting an unnamed official.

The official said it was obvious that any overt role by the Chinese will be acceptable to neither India nor China, but 'silent mediation' by Beijing could not be ruled out.

With this in mind, Pakistani authorities have been talking to Chinese officials through diplomatic channels and in case of any positive development, India would be consulted, he said.

The US, whom Islamabad has often approached, used to be in close contact with New Delhi, but its interest seems to be 'decreasing with the passage of time and, presently, it is not that active as it was a couple of years ago on the front of Indo-Pak peace process,' the official said.