Decisions on J&K internal matter; Differences should not become disputes: India to China

India's decisions on Jammu and Kashmir are country's "internal" matter and sole prerogative of country which have implication for eir external boundaries of India or LAC with China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday, amidst Beijing's objection to formation of Lakh as Union Territory.

During his bilateral meeting with Wang, Jaishankar also said it was important to ensure that bilateral differences should t become disputes and emphasised that future of ties will depend on mutual sensitivity to each or's "core concerns".

remarks came in response to Wang, who brought up developments pertaining to legislation passed recently by Indian Parliament on J&K, saying China is "very closely" following Indo-Pak tensions over Kashmir and its "ramifications" while asking New Delhi to play a "constructive role" for regional peace and stability.

According to an official release from Ministry of External Affairs, during bilateral meeting, Jaishankar conveyed that this was an "internal" matter for India and issue related to changes in a temporary provision of Constitution of India and was sole prerogative of country.

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Asserting that legislative measures were aimed at promoting better governance and socio-ecomic development, Jaishankar also said re was implication for eir external boundaries of India or Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. 

"India was t raising any ditional territorial claims. Chinese concerns in this regard were refore misplaced. minister also conveyed that so far as India China boundary question was concerned, two sides h agreed to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of Boundary Question on basis of 2005 Political Parameters and Guiding Principles," release said. 

Jaishankar, who is on a crucial three-day visit to China, also called on Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, considered a confidant of President Xi Jinping.

Welcoming Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Wang referred to Indo-Pak tensions without directly mentioning about India scrapping Article 370 of Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"On basis of Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, we can have mutually beneficial cooperation. This is in fundamental interest and long term interest of our two peoples and also contribute to world peace and human progress," Wang said.

"At same time, China and India as two big nations, also have important responsibilities for upholding regional peace and stability," he said.

"When it comes to recent tensions between India and Pakistan and possible ramifications, we follow se developments very closely. We hope that India would also play a constructive role for regional peace and stability," Wang said.

visit of Jaishankar, first Indian minister to tour China after Modi government began its second term, is taking place following India's decision to revoke special status of J&K and divide state into two Union Territories -Jammu and Kashmir, and Lakh.

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His visit was finalised much before India's move to revoke Article 370 of Constitution that gave special status to J&K.

China on August 6 h objected to formation of Lakh as Union Territory by India, saying it undermined its territorial sovereignty, evoking a sharp reaction from New Delhi, which asked Beijing to refrain from commenting on its "internal affairs".

Jaishankar's visit comes days after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi travelled to Beijing on August 9 to seek China's support for his country's attempts to take India's move to revoke special status to Kashmir to UN Security Council.

Jaishankar later told media that change is for better governance and social and ecomic development.

To a question, wher Chinese side raised issue of Aksai Chin, Jaishankar said issue came up when Chinese side referred to what y perceived to be impact of Article 370.

" position I took was we maintain our boundary claims. We maintained our international boundary as per our map," he said, ding that since Chinese side raised se issues clarity was provided.

"y conveyed concerns expressed by Pakistan. My point was that y have to look at reality of situation. As far as Pakistan is concerned, reality was sober reality and re was implication and matter did t concern Pakistan," he said.

Asked wher China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor, over which India has protested to China as it traversed through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Jaishankar said it did t figure in detail.

"re was a discussion on connectivity. I reiterated India's position," he said.

Banglesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) corridor which is a part of China's Belt and Ro Initiative also figured in talks.  

A joint study group is still working on it, he said, ding that India was t responsible for delay in project.

He said issues related to permitting telecom giant Huawei in 5G trials, "came up in passing" reference. "It is a mater on which government has t taken a decision...we don't have a definitive position on it," he said.

Jaishankar said China has indicted that it is open to expand access to Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.