China has said that it believes that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will be able to bridge differences between India and Pakistan.
“We know there are existing and historical unresolved conflicts between Pakistan and India,” Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Monday. “But I think after they joined the SCO, maybe we can provide a better platform and opportunities for the building of relations between them.”
This is in relevance to the historic handshake between PM Modi and Pakistan President Manmoon Hussain shared on Sunday at the summit, bringing speculations of ceasefire between the countries to an end.
However opinions are still underway after India rejected China’s Belt and Road Initiative supported by Pakistan, Russia and Central Asian countries. It is critical of the initiative as it passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Narendra Modi is reported to have said that any mega connectivity project must respect sovereignty and ensured India’s full support in more inclusive projects in the future.
Sundaresan Balakrishnan commented upon the report saying, “Let us know first if SCO would change the mind of China wrt to terrorists in Pakistan whom they seem to protect from international sanctions. China wants Pakistan to balance India like they use North Korea to balance US and the west.”
