India for early resolution of stapled visa issue with China

India wants an early resolution of the contentious stapled visa issue with China as allowing it to "fester" for long could lead to a negative impact on the overall relations between the two countries.

Underlining the seriousness India attaches to the issue, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said, China also knows the importance of the matter and New Delhi cannot accept the status quo on it.

"They understand the seriousness and the importance that we attach to this issue because we wanted results. We cannot accept the status quo on this. Therefore, what he (Premier Wen Jiabao) told Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) was that we need to sort this out," Rao told Karan Thapar on CNBCTV 18's India Tonight programme.

Noting that the issue should be settled quickly, she said unless it may have a negative impact on the relationship between the two countries.

"I am sure the Chinese see the impact of this on the relationship. It has not had a good impact on the relationship," she said, adding that Wen's visit here last week had a "further stabilising effect" on the relationship.

Rao said India has been putting across its message on Jammu and Kashmir, particularly on the stapled visa issue "which directly seems to question our sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir," very clearly that it would like to see more positive statements of support on it from China.

Asked about China being non-committal on supporting India's candidature for a UN Security Council seat, Rao said, "China has been looking at the issue with a lot of interest and they are absorbed in the debate that is developing on this issue.

"I think they understand that this particular issue about permanent membership is very important for many of the aspiring members including India," she said, observing that when it comes to the ultimate decision, China is unlikely to "stand in the way".

"They would not want to stand against the groundswell," she said.

Asked why the joint statement issued after talks between Wen and Singh did not mention 26/11 and bringing the culprits of the carnage to book, she said one has to be realistic about the Sino-India ties and the kind of relationship Beijing has with Pakistan.

"China and Pakistan have a very close strategic consensus on many issues, and the depth of that relationship is known to all of us. So, we have a very realistic appreciation of where we stand with China on a number of these issues," she said.

On why for the first time in 15-20 years, India's commitment to a One-China policy did not figure in the joint statement, Rao said the Chinese side understands New Delhi's long-stated position on the issues and no need was felt to reiterate it.

"Because it is assumed that the One-China policy has not changed," she said.