Washington and Beijing will not take sides in the persisting regional disputes between India and Pakistan. The United States and China stated their positions after New Dehli’s decision to isolate Pakistan following a terrorist attack on an Indian military base earlier in September that killed 18 soldiers.
China’s "all-weather" friendship with Pakistan and the US has made it difficult for Beijing to find common ground with India, despite both countries suffering terrorist attacks and the focus on the Afghan-Pakistan region as a key entryway for violent extremists. Despite Beijing’s hands-off approach, there have been strides to maintain its relationship with Islamabad.
On September 21 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that China is "ready to deepen all-round practical cooperation with Pakistan and is willing to make joint efforts with Islamabad in injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations," according to Xinhuanet.
The Chinese top official added, "As all-weather strategic partners of cooperation, China and Pakistan have always firmly supported each other and their friendship is unbreakable… China is willing to maintain close high-level contacts and continue to strengthen coordination with Pakistan on global and regional affairs."
Li made no mention of issues in Kashmir at the meeting, but The Dawn quoted the Consul General of China in Lahore, Yu Boren, saying, "In case of any [foreign] aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan… and will be siding with Pakistan on Kashmir issue."
In response to the Consul General’s remarks on China supporting Pakistan in the event of conflict, IANS quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang, saying, "China’s position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear… As neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation and jointly work for peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region."
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Sharif on September 19, and, according to a readout, the two discussed a "strong, long-term bilateral partnership” between Washington and Islamabad, "and to build upon the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue."
Kerry praised Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts at the meeting and both he and Sharif, "expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir — particularly the army base attack — and the need for all sides to reduce tensions."
The fact that President Obama was meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi just months before Kerry shored up Washington’s relationship with Sharif indicates the inclination of the US toward neutrality in the dispute.
As part of a campaign to isolate Pakistan, Modi recently announced his intention to forego attending November’s South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad.
The Times of India quoted an external affairs ministry statement saying, "India has conveyed to current SAARC chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad in November 2016."
This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.