Srinagar, March 23, 2010: Ignoring New Delhi’s discomfort over involving China in Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq held talks with a senior Chinese foreign affairs official and discussed a possible role for Beijing in the resolution of the dispute. In what was his first contact with a top Chinese official, Mirwaiz met Director Foreign Affairs, Ying Gang in Geneva on the sidelines of the 13th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday. The Hurriyat leader is due to travel to China at the invitation of the NGO Han Foundation.During the talks, Gang is reported to have expressed Chinese support for settling the Kashmir issue “as per the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris”. “Our country supports resumption of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan. China wants the two countries to take steps towards the resolution of Kashmir,” Gang was quoted as saying by Mirwaiz.“It is for the first time in 20 years that any government delegation of China met and interacted with the Kashmiri pro-freedom leadership,” a Hurriyat spokesman said. Meanwhile, another Hurriyat leader Bilal Lone welcomed China’s role in Kashmir, saying it was not a parallel diplomacy of the separatists to engage Bejing in the issue. India and Pakistan can’t be main players in the dispute, Lone said, and added that the West too has a say in the Kashmir policy. Mirwaiz is also due to take part in the Pakistan Day function to be hosted by High Commissioner Shahid Malik on Tuesday. Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani is also expected to attend.
(Agencies):
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