China in focus amid bid to curb terror funding in J&K

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kashmir violence,amarnath issue by javed darAt a time when National Investigation Agency (NIA) have arrested seven Kashmiri separatist leaders in the Valley and NDA government led by Narendra Modi have started breaking the nexus of funding of terror and subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, New Delhi is also keeping close eye on China, who repeatedly have ‘warned’ India after Doklam standoff. New Delhi feels that China, as a tactic measure, is backing and propagating Pakistan on Kashmir issue. Recently a Chinese Think Tank had in the government sponsored newspaper, Global Times, said that China may support Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir issue as India was doing in Doklam to support Bhutan.

Now right from Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to Union Ministers in Delhi took serious note of it. Just three months back Mehbooba had commented that China is responsible for the Kashmir issue. She had said that ‘the problem in Kashmir is not of the legal system. The external forces have hands in spoiling the environment. There is a fight of intrusion by foreign forces and now even China is putting in it. ‘

And now she said, “China and America should take care of their own house.” Is there really a threat of China for Jammu and Kashmir? Sources claim that inputs gathered by Indian agencies reveal that China is trying to play a mischievous role in Jammu and Kashmir and it is now planning to openly support Pakistan on J&K.

The NIS crackdown on Kashmiri separatist leaders is part of its strategy to counter Pakistan and China. NIA had raided over two dozen locations in Valley, National Capital and Haryana in connection with alleged funding received by Kashmiri separatist groups for carrying out subversive activities in the Valley. Now the agency has taken 10 days custody for the arrested separatist leaders from the Court.

Those who have been arrested include big names. Besides Farooq Ahmed Dar alias ‘Bitta Karate’, arrested Altaf Ahmed Shah is the son-in-law of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. He is known as Ataf Fantoosh among his supporters was already in JK police custody. Others who have been arrested are Tehreek-e-Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaaz Akbar and Peer Saifullah.

The agency has also arrested Shahid-Ul-Islam who is the spokesperson of moderate Hurriyat Conference group led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while arrested Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Nayeem Khan belong to the Geelani faction. On July 26 another separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah was also arrested and was sent to seven day ED custody by Patiala House Court in New Delhi.

Sources told the Tehelka that Modi government is trying to strengthen mainstream politics in Jammu and Kashmir under its plan. For this it is working hard to weaken the separatist groups, who till now hold support of certain sections in the Valley. It is said that if it succeeds in breaking nexus of funding agencies and separatists, it will strengthen those mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, who support the solution of the problem within the ambit of Indian Constitution.

However, it will not be a cakewalk for New Delhi as China has now started supporting Pakistan on Kashmir issue. This is not for the first time. If we go back, the third potential threat had also shown signs in 2008. China had made it clear that it does not consider the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir to belong legitimately to India, and that it considers itself a stakeholder. During that period the presence of Chinese troops was felt in Ladakh. Not only this China suddenly had stopped giving visas to Jammu and Kashmir residents on Indian passports to which India had strongly opposed.

According to the sources, New Delhi is feeling a knee joint between China and Pakistan. Doklam standoff has definitely raised the tension on the border. New Delhi feels that China is using Pak against India. Pakistan also wants to show India that it has hand of a powerful country like China on his head. It is also Pakistan’s compulsion to be used for China in this way. It is said that within Pakistan there is a fear that the Narendra Modi government in India can take any kind of action before the national election of 2019. This fear of him is forcing him to be used for China.

The total border area between India and China is 4057 kilometers. Out of this, the border touching Jammu and Kashmir is 1954 kms. This is also interesting that the highest border area in the whole country belong to Jammu and Kashmir and it is 3176 kms.

Indeed, China is also concerned about the possibility of India becoming a major force in the South Asian region. China is not able to digest India’s strength in the South Asia region. India is trying to improve relations with those small countries which do not like China or have some problems with that country. It is said that Indian government has plans to invite leaders of these countries to be guest of honors on 15th August. India is now preparing to make a tunnel to reach the border of China. Border Roads Organization (BRO), a road construction organization in border areas, has been entrusted with the task of constructing a two-lane tunnel in Tawang. BRO has sought the land from Arunachal Government for this work. These tunnels will be constructed at an altitude of 11,000 and 12,000 feet.

How Pakistan and China are working together, it is evident from this that Pakistan, which is giving direct and indirect support to terrorism in India, has opened a new front against India. Pakistan wants to take international docamal dispute between India and China internationally. In this regard, Pakistan’s high commissioner Abdul Basit has met with Chinese Ambassador Lu Zhaohui. It is reported that Abdul Basit is also going to meet Bhutan High Commissioner. It is believed that Abdul Basit is discussing with China on the ongoing dispute between India and China. According to reports, Basit had met the Chinese ambassador on July 26. It is necessary to tell here that this dispute has nothing to do with Pakistan. There is no Pakistan border here, nor is there any strategic interest in this area.

There is concern about the attitude of China in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Mahbuba Mufti says that China and the United States must take care of their home. Mufti also strongly oppose any third party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue. Mehbooba has said that if the US starts interfering on Kashmir issue then condition of the valley will become same to that of Syria and Afghanistan. Infact her statement came in response to the statement of former JK Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, in which Abdullah had said that India must accept the US and China mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue. But in Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP and PDP chief’s and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti opposed to any such attempt.

Farooq Abdullah had said on July 21 that India should seek the help of US and China to resolve the Kashmir issue. He said US President Donald Trump wants to end Kashmir issue and also China is ready to mediate between India and Pakistan. Farooq Abdullah added that when both the countries are going ahead to resolve the Kashmir row, then friends should use it to solve the issue. The government should talk to them. Earlier, Abdullah had said that Kashmiri youth are sacrificing their lives for Kashmir issue and not for tourism. They also said that the country is not broken by the anti-slogans.

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