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| Unresolved stapled visa issue a bane for J&K residents | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Dec 17: During his three-day visit to India the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, has demonstrated a pro-Pakistan bias in the policy of Beijing vis-a-vis India. China has clearly exhibited greater interest in the promotion of trade with India than normalising relations with its immediate neighbour.
Though the Chinese premier has given an indication of addressing trade imbalances, which at present tilts in favour of China, he has neither supported India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, not backed India's stand on Kashmir being its integral part nor on Delhi's claim that terrorism emanated from the soil of Pakistan. In fact India wanted these issues to be part of the joint statement but China refused to concede New Delhi's demand.
Wen Jiabao also refused to make a firm commitment on changing China's policy on issuing stapled visa to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Yes, there were signs indicating Chinese willingness to change the policy but its decision was postponed because the Chinese premier was scheduled to visit Pakistan from today. Indications are that Jiabao may discuss the issue of stapled visa with the Pakistan leadership and if there was strong opposition for the change from the establishment in Islamabad China may defer altering the stapled visa policy for an indefinite period. But if there was neither any whimper nor any cry against the plan of changing the stapled visa policy Beijing may scrap the year old policy. As such residents of Jammu and Kashmir may not get permission from New Delhi for visting China on stapled visas until Beijing scraps this policy.
Whether the joint statement or the series of agreements signed between the two sides both seem to be a "made in China" affair because the ultimate advantage of these agreements goes in favour of China.
China seems to have preferred to further cement its ties with Pakistan so that it could build up its bases in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir to the disadvantage of India. What seems to have dampened New Delhi's expectations of some gains from Jiabao's visit is the way Chinese Premier made no commitment on changing its pro-Pakistan policy on Kashmir. By refusing to include a sentence in the joint statement that Kashmir was an integral part of India and by avoiding a mention on Mumbai terrorist attack having been engineered by elements in Pakistan China has further demonstrated its pro-Pak tilt.
However, blind support of China to Islamabad seems to have emboldened Pakistan to adopt belligerent postures against India. However, Wen Jiabao cannot ignore the impact Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir could have on the Chinese borders. Beijing's stand on Kashmir being a disputed territory and China's aid to projects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir besides heavy military and non-military aid to Pakistan are the main issues that continue to irritate New Delhi. |
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