After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed external forces, including China, for creating trouble in the state, China raised its pitch on the Sikkim issue, saying there was no room for negotiations. In fact, the neighbour added a new dimension to the matter by calling Ladakh a disputed area.
"India should not regard earlier standoffs in 2013 and 2014 in Ladakh, a disputed area between China, Pakistan, and India, as similar to the current (Sikkim) one. Diplomatic efforts led the troop's frictions there to a well-arranged end. But this time, it is a totally different case," the official Chinese Xinhua news agency was reported as saying.
Beijing then offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue but New Delhi rejected the offer, reiterating that it was a bilateral issue.
For the last one month, Indian and Chinese troops have been in a face off in Dokalam, a disputed territory between China and Bhutan, falling on the Indo-Bhutan-China tri-junction on the Sikkim border.
Mufti had met with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, to discuss the issue of safety of Amarnath pilgrims.
On Friday, during an all-party meeting, the government had briefed the Opposition on the military standoff with China and the Amarnath attack.
"Kashmir is not a law and order problem. It is happening because of external forces. The ongoing fight is a handiwork of external forces and now, unfortunately, China is also trying to meddle into it," Mufti said after the meeting.
Sources said Singh stressed on the need to normalise the situation in the state quickly and also expressed happiness that everybody in Kashmir was one in condemning the attack on the pilgrims.
During the half-an-hour meeting, the CM informed the Home Minister about the steps taken in Kashmir to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the security forces gunned down three terrorists, taking this year's toll to 107. Also, so far, more than 1.86 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine and the number is expected to cross the last year's mark of 2.21 lakh.
Over 21,000 paramilitary personnel, double the last year's number, were deployed for the yatra this year, in wake of the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen member Burhan Wani. This was in addition to the state police force and five Army battalions. Sources said the additional deployment is likely to continue.
Besides, Mufti said the state government had requested the Centre to ensure that Article 370 was not diluted. "I am happy that the President, in his order, reiterated that the special status granted to the state would not be diluted."
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