China refuses to bend on J&K stapled visas

BEIJING: Rejecting New Delhi’s assertions that Beijing should respect India’s sensitivities on Kashmir, China today said that its policy of issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris would remain unchanged , in crucial comments ahead of a meeting between PMs of the two countries.

Weeks after external affairs minister S M Krishna hoped that Beijing would maintain “neutrality” on the affairs related to J&K and respect India’s sensitivities on the issue, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said, “Though China had friendly relations with India, its policy towards the stapled visas for residents of the state remained unchanged.”

The comments come ahead of this week’s meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of East Asia Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. The issue of stapled visa is likely to figure prominently at the talks.