China snubbed, says favours direct Indo-Pak talks

After being snubbed, China has conveyed to India that it has no intention of playing a broker in India-Pakistan 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, said the source accompanying 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 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 on Friday that China has a link with Kashmir issue as Aksai Chin, part of the state, is under its control.