Though failing to get explicit Chinese support for his intransigent Kashmir stance, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf concluded his visit to China today after obtaining assurances from the new Chinese leadership on safeguarding Pakistan’s ‘‘sovereignty and territorial integrity’’. ‘‘The Chinese side reaffirms that it respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, and appreciates and supports the efforts of Pakistan for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with neighbours and to safeguard its state sovereignty and independence,’’ the first ever joint declaration, issued late last night, said. The stress on Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the declaration assumes significance in the wake of statements by top Indian leaders that India would take back PoK, analysts said. Pakistan’s official media has also reported that Chinese premier Wen Jiabao also reassured that Beijing was committed to support Pakistan’s territorial integrity. ‘‘I am sure, you will be leaving China at the end of the state visit, with the reassurance of the continued commitment of the new Chinese leadership for the progress, prosperity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan,’’ the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted him as saying. However, on the Kashmir issue, the only public statement Musharraf elicited from the new Chinese leadership was during the meeting on Monday with President Hu Jintao. ‘‘China will, as always, support the reconciliation between Pakistan and India and continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace, security and stability in South Asia,’’ Hu, also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of china (CPC), said. Other than that, the joint declaration mentions that China ‘‘appreciates and supports’’ Pakistan’s efforts to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues with neighbours. China’s state-run media also avoided publishing Musharraf’s rhetoric on Kashmir yesterday at the Peking University, indicating that Beijing did not want to take sides on the sensitive issue. Analysts view this changed mood in Beijing as a reflection of China’s new pragmatic foreign policy of not taking sides in the India-Pakistan war of words. Moreover, analysts also feel that China would not like to retard the positive momentum in Sino-Indian relations as a result of the successful visit of PM A.B. Vajpayee in June. Musharraf seems to have suffered a setback on signing the deal on the much-talked about second phase of the Chashma nuclear power plant. Interestingly, China had agreed in principle to build a second nuclear power plant, costing some US $700 million, during the visit of Pakistani PM Jamali to Beijing in March. Asked to comment on the delay in signing the nuclear deal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue only said that the two sides have reached a ‘‘consensus’’ .China has offered a preferential loan of $500 million to Pakistan for bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The new leadership told Musharraf that Sino-Pakistani ‘‘all weather’’ relationship would continue. (PTI)
