Beijing, May 05: "Foresight" and "courage" from the leadership of India and Pakistan are required to avert another breakdown or a "third party" intervention over Kashmir issue, China's official media said commenting on recent peace overtures by the two sides. "To prevent a third party, in particular the United States, from being involved in this issue, it is imperative for India and Pakistan to sort out their own differences," said the editorial in the country’s the official daily.
The editorial came a day after Chinese government welcomed as "positive" the latest peace overtures by India and Pakistan. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry hoped the steps would usher-in a conducive atmosphere for the resumption of Indo-Pak talks. While welcoming Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's peace initiatives, the paper noted that the Kashmir issue has dominated relations between the two countries for more than 50 years and has the potential to derail any peace initiative.
"It is, therefore, imperative that both sides adopt a pragmatic approach and adjust their respective long adhered to policies on Kashmir issue in order to find common ground. This will require both the foresight and courage of the leaders of both countries," the official newspaper said. The latest reconciliatory moves by India and Pakistan, which seem to be tentative steps towards peace talks, signals a thaw in relations between the two countries, it said. Bureau Report