Srinagar: Reacting to the Government Spokesman Nayeem Akhtar’s claim that China is assuming a “much bigger role in Kashmir” and the Jaish-e-Muhammad has been veritably “adopted” by Beijing, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday asked New Delhi to explain the minister’s proclamation about China’s involvement in J&K affairs.
Omar, in a tweet asked that such an assertion from the closest confidant of Mehbooba Mufti cannot be dismissed as ‘wild ramblings’.
China has adopted JeM, a terrorist organisation operating in J&K. This assertion from @MehboobaMufti’s closest confidant cannot be dismissed as wild ramblings. Govt of India needs to explain the basis of this statement. https://t.co/WCvL0P6Yqa
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 20, 2018
Akhtar who is also the Works Minister had told the Indian Express, “The Kashmir issue isn’t limited to the fight between India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved.He further added, “It isn’t Pakistan alone, it is China too. General (Bipin Rawat) said that the Army is ready to fight on both fronts. But there aren’t two fronts anymore. Now it is one single front, circling around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu, Sri Lanka and Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China aren’t separate”.
Akhtar while claiming that JeM leader Masood Azhar has been ‘adopted’ by China, talking to Pakistan at this point is in national interest.