Kashmir dispute: India rejects China's offer of mediation

New Delhi on Thursday rejected China’s offer of mediation over the Kashmir issue and said that it would not accept any third country’s intervention on the issue.

India further said that its stand on resolving issues through bilateral framework has not changed.

The reply came in the backdrop of China's saying that it is ready to play a constructive role in improving ties between Pakistan and India.

"We are ready to have a dialogue with Pakistan, among other issues, but in a bilateral framework. India's position of addressing all issues with Pakistan, including the Jammu and Kashmir issue, in a bilateral framework has not changed," said India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokersperson Gopal Baglay.

Earlier Beijing had said the conflict between India and Pakistan is threatening peace and stability in the region.

"Both Pakistan and India are important countries in South Asia. The conflict between the two countries along the Line of Control in Kashmir is neither conducive to their own stability and development nor regional peace and tranquillity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said during a press conference on Wednesday.

"China hopes relevant parties will do more to help with regional peace and stability and refrain from escalating the tension. China stands ready to play a constructive role to improve the relations between Pakistan and India," he added.