In a rather unusual diplomatic move, China on Thursday urged India and Nepal to seek a fair and reasonable solution to the Kala Pani "dispute" between the two South Asian nations.
Disclosing that the Nepalese side raised the Kala Pani issue with China during the recent fourth Foreign Ministry-level consultations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Beijing has taken note of the "dispute" between India and Nepal.
"We have noticed that it is a question under dispute between the two sides," Zhang said at a regular Foreign Ministry press briefing. She said "both Nepal and India are friendly neighbours of China. We sincerely hope that the sides will, through consultations and talks, seek a fair and reasonable solution." "In our bilateral consultations, Nepal came up with this question," Zhang said when asked whether Nepal sought China's help in resolving the Kala Pani "dispute" with India. The Sino-Nepalese Foreign Ministry-level consultations were held here on October 11 during which both sides reviewed bilateral issues and discussed the situation in South Asia.
Official sources said the Kala Pani is a "disputed tri-junction" between India, Nepal and China. However, the sources said China is not directly involved in the dispute and the unusual move by the Chinese side may be part of a pressure tactic to nudge India to resolve the issue with Nepal. Bureau Report