China and Pakistan try to dispute Kashmir in a new way China opposed India’s action in Kashmir and Ladakh, why did it do soHow did India give a strong reply and how did it declare it as its own?
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, troubled by his financial condition and financial crisis, visited China in the first week of June so that he could beg for a troubled Pakistan. China has also been giving shocks to Pakistan continuously. Now when Pakistan is in a state of complete surrender, China is firing a gun from its shoulder. It has also started plotting against India through Pakistan to take advantage.
This can be gauged from the joint declaration signed by Shahbaz and Jinping on 07 June. Both the countries called Kashmir and Ladakh a historical dispute. Condemned any unilateral action in these areas. Emphasis was laid on bilateral talks for these areas.
It is clear that these areas officially included in India are a sore spot for both. They have been continuously staking claim on them. Now they want to make these areas controversial by conspiring and stake claim on them. Both have again started conspiring about Kashmir and those areas. However, India has clearly said that these areas are sovereign areas of India. Hence neither Pakistan nor China has the right to talk about them.
what are the recent developments
– In a joint statement issued on 7 June 2024, China supported Pakistan and said, “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is a product of history. It should be resolved properly and peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements”.
– India strongly rejected these “inappropriate references” by China and Pakistan to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. India’s Foreign Ministry says these were, are and will always remain integral and inseparable parts of India. India stressed, “No other country has the right to comment on this”.
– India also strongly opposed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement, as many of its projects are in areas of Kashmir that are forcibly and illegally occupied by Pakistan. India rejected any attempt to strengthen or legitimize Pakistan’s illegal occupation of these areas.
Question – What do these recent developments between China and Pakistan tell us?
– These recent developments point to the long-standing territorial disputes and tensions between India, Pakistan and China, especially over the Kashmir region. It also shows that on one hand China considers Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Kashmir to be justified, while on the other hand it wants to agree with Pakistan on Ladakh and other territorial disputes on which it has been claiming its rights for a long time. In the past, there have been wars between these countries over the dispute of territorial rights.
Question – What has been India’s response to this?
– India has strongly rejected the statement of China-Pakistan regarding Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Claimed its sovereignty over these areas. Also opposed any attempt to legitimize Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
What is the historical event
To know this, we need to know about these things
– 1947 Partition of British India – Partition led to the creation of Pakistan and India, in which Kashmir was a disputed territory. The Maharaja of Kashmir initially said clearly that he would not join any country but would remain independent between India and Pakistan. But later when Pakistan sponsored attacks through tribals, Maharaja Hari Singh agreed to include Kashmir in India.
– 1949 Ceasefire Line (CFL) – The CFL was established to temporarily end violence in the Jammu and Kashmir region. The line now became the de facto boundary between India and Pakistan, dividing Kashmir.
– 1963 Agreement- China signed an agreement with Pakistan ceding the Trans-Karakoram Tract to it, further complicating territorial issues in the region.
– 1965 Indo-Pakistani War – Pakistan took advantage of the discontent in the Kashmir Valley and sent armed infiltrators, leading to full-scale war. Hostilities temporarily ceased under the Tashkent Declaration in 1966, but tensions continue.
– 1971 Indo-Pakistani War – India and Pakistan fought another brief war over East Pakistan, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. This conflict further strained relations and increased the risk of any confrontation.
– 1972 Shimla Agreement- The agreement established the Line of Control (LOC), a temporary military control line that divided Kashmir into two administrative regions. However, the conflict continued. Both sides often accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
– 1999 Kargil War – Pakistani troops crossed the LoC, sparking the Kargil War. Although the two countries have maintained a fragile ceasefire since 2003, they regularly exchange fire along the disputed border.
– 2019 Abolition of Article 370 – India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by scrapping Article 370, removing the state’s ability to set its own property and settlement laws. The move was seen as a significant step towards integrating Kashmir into India. Pakistan strongly opposed it.
Question – What is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is it on Kashmir land?
– The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) does not operate directly on Kashmir land. However, some projects under CPEC are located in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which India claims as its own. India has consistently expressed its opposition to CPEC projects in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, citing sovereignty and territorial integrity concerns.
– Kohala Hydroelectric Project: The 1,100 MW project is being constructed by China’s Three Gorges Corporation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The project was approved by the governments of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, China and the Three Gorges Corporation in 2020.
– Mahal Hydro Power Project: This 640 MW project is also a part of CPEC and is located in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
– Karakoram Highway: The Karakoram Highway, which links China’s Xinjiang province with northern Pakistan, is a key component of the CPEC. India objects to work on the highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, which it claims is in its territory.
Question – Why does China continue to support Pakistan on the Kashmir issue?
– China supports Pakistan on the Kashmir issue for several historical and strategic reasons. China and Pakistan have a long-standing alliance, dating back to the 1962 Sino-Pakistani border war. China has traditionally been Pakistan’s closest ally. The relationship between the two has only strengthened through various agreements and military cooperation.
Geopolitical interests- China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, which include infrastructure development and energy projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, are important for China and it wants to protect these investments.
Security concerns – China is more concerned that since it has projects going on in this region which are important from the strategic and economic point of view, if there is a conflict between India and Pakistan, its own interests in the region will be affected.
By supporting Pakistan, China seeks to maintain a balance of power and also safeguard its economic and strategic objectives. China and Pakistan have significant economic ties, with China being Pakistan’s largest trading partner. Overall, China’s support for Pakistan on Kashmir is rooted in a complex mix of historical, strategic, and economic factors that have grown over time.
Question: Why has China’s attitude towards areas like Ladakh, Arunachal always been conspiratorial?
– China had made a five finger policy regarding Tibet in the 50s, which is the gift of Mao Tse Tung. China considers Tibet to be the palm of its right hand, which has five fingers – Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, it has its eyes on all these areas. It has also been illegally occupying them.
Tags: China and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 14, 2024, 12:29 IST