India snubs China's offer to play 'constructive role' on Kashmir, says it's a bilateral issue

"We are ready to have a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir under a bilateral framework," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said at his weekly media briefing.

MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay | ANI

NEW DELHI: A day after China expressed interest in mediating between its all-weather ally — read Pakistan — and regional rival (India) on Kashmir, New Delhi on Thursday asked its nosy neighbor to stay away.

Asserting cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was the primary threat to regional peace, India said the issue was a bilateral matter between itself and Pakistan.

Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Kashmir had attracted “international attention” and offered to play a ‘constructive role’ in improving India-Pakistan ties.

“It’s cross-border terrorism in our region, emanating from a particular source, that is threatening peace and stability not only in India but its neighbours,” MEA spokesperson Gopal Bagley said.

Chinese attempt to interfere in Kashmir under the garb of being a responsible neighbour comes even as it’s engaged in a border standoff with India and Bhutan near Sikkim — longest since the 1962 war.

Local outfits in India are also rallying over Chinese aggression. RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch on Thursday demanded the termination of contracts to Chinese manufacturers for Metro coaches. The outfit has written to the Prime Minister calling ‘Make in India’ program a ‘farce’ as Chinese firms resort to ‘assembling of parts instead of manufacturing’.

SJM convenor Ashwani Mahajan claimed Maharashtra government has already placed an order for 69 coaches worth Rs 851 crore with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, followed by West Bengal that has ordered more than 100 coaches.

Meanwhile, two top American nuclear experts have claimed that India is developing a missile which can target all of China from bases in South India.

“India’s nuclear strategy, which has traditionally focussed on Pakistan, now appears to place increased emphasis on China,” wrote Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

“India is estimated to have produced enough plutonium for 150-200 nuclear warheads but has likely produced only 120-130,” it added.