China calls *** 'northern Pakistan', J&K is 'India-controlled Kashmir'
Saibal Dasgupta, TNN, Sep 2, 2010, 08.12pm IST
BEIJING: China on Thursday denied a report that it has deployed 11,000 soldiers in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of ***************** Kashmir. But the Chinese foreign ministry described the disputed area as "northern part of Pakistan". It refrained calling it *** while describing India's Jammu & Kashmir as " India controlled Kashmir".
"The story that China has deployed its military in northern part of Pakistan is totally groundless and out of ulterior purpose. Some people are fabricating reports to destroy relations between China, Pakistan and India. But their efforts will get nowhere," Jiang Yu, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday. She was replying to questions about a New York Times report saying that China has sent 11,000 soldiers to Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Jiang also made it clear Beijing will stick to its policy about stapled visas for Indians living in Jammu & Kashmir. "About our visa policy toward inhabitants in the Indian Controlled Kashmir region the policy is consistent and stayed unchanged," she said. She did not give a direct reply to a question about reports concerning denial of Chinese visa to India's Gen. B.S.Jaswal.
"After reading reports we have checked with competent authority. The relevant media report is not true," she said. "As a neighbour and friend of both countries, China believes that the (Kashmir) issue should be left to the two countries so that it could be properly handled through dialogue and consultation," the spokeswoman said.
China calls *** 'northern Pakistan', J&K is 'India-controlled Kashmir' - China - World - The Times of India