China Considers Kashmir a Separate Entity

Dr.manwar

          Kashmir is a disputed territory representing core political conflict between India and Pakistan. The people of Kashmir are suffering in the hands of Indian illegal occupation and their oppressive rule. Pakistan keeps on voicing her concerns to persuade India to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the will of the Kashmiri people and in accordance with the UN resolutions on the issue. Unfortunately India has never been comfortable to Pakistani suggestions and has always jealously attempted to show Kashmir as its integral part.

          China as a regional power has taken a different position on Kashmir based on principles and philosophy of ethical diplomacy. China considers Kashmir as a separate entity and is ready to extend all sorts of help and moral support to Kashmiri people to improve upon their present state of affairs.  Chinese Embassy has been issuing visas to some Kashmiris on a separate sheet of paper instead of passports, like in the case of those hailing from Arunachal Pradesh on which Beijing lays its claim. The visas are stamped on separate papers which are stapled to the passport. The practice of issuing such visas on separate papers has been there for years. India has recently lodged a protest against such a Chinese visa issuing practice. On the other hand China maintained that they have issued valid visas to the people of Indian held Kashmir and that the problem laid with Indian immigration authorities who do not wish to allow Kashmiris to proceed abroad for higher education.

                    Reportedly, Mr. Shakil A Romshoo an associate professor of university in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) has been stopped from flying to China by Indian immigration authorities in New Delhi after the Chinese visa was granted to him on a separate document and not on his passport. This prompted the Indian government to protest against the Chinese practice. China has disregarded Indian protest stressing that the visas issued to IOK citizens are correct and valid. They further contented that this was not a new practice and has been done even in the past.

                   More recently, China�s foreign office reiterated its stance on 4^th November 2009 that it would continue issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris without bringing any change in policy adding that due to its historical nature, the Kashmir dispute could not be put into cold storage and it should be settled through dialogue.

                   According to media reports, majority of the affected of this new development are students and academician. Irrespective of Chinese intentions to help students and academicians by extending the facility to get visas for study tours in China, India has seen the issue in a very myopic fashion. Indian oblique angle vision has construed that China is issuing visas to Kashmiris, on behest of Pakistan. They have failed to see the personal benefits which the students and knowledge seekers can get by studying in China at comparatively low cost. Indian government has tried to politicize a non issue to score points against China.     

                   Indian decision to stop Professor Shakil A Romshoo to visit China has sent distressing signals to Kashmiri students desiring to study in China. It has simply infused discontentment amongst Kashmiri sufferers who can expect nothing good from Indian authorities. The issue has also added to the already existing tension between India and China. There have been Indian media reports about Chinese maps for tourist visiting Tibet and sale of globes in India depicting Kashmir as separate entity. India must realize that Kashmir is a disputed territory deserving resolution at all costs.