India's pressure works; China says PoK not in Pak

New Delhi: Two days after Indian government lodged a formal protest with its Chinese counterpart for referring to PoK as part of northern Pakistan, China has now removed the reference from its foreign affairs website, according to the state news agency Xinhua.

Union Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna had categorically said that Jammu & Kashmir was an inalienable part of India. "J&K is an inalienable part of India and we have noted with great concern the comments of Chinese spokesperson," he had said.

Krishna added: "We have advised the Ambassador to take it up and hope that the Chinese government will respect our concern."

Amid reports of Chinese troops build up along Gilgit-Baltistan area PoK India's ambassador to China S Jaishankar met China's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhang Zhijun in Beijing.

He conveyed India's concerns over the issue and lodged a strong protest with Beijing.

During their 90-minute meeting, the Chinese Minister told the Ambassador that Chinese personnel were present in PoK to render "humanitarian assistance" to the flood-affected people in the region, according to sources in the Indian Embassy.

The officials said the concerns conveyed by India included "activities and presence" of Chinese in the Gilgit-Baltistan area of PoK, as well as The New York Times report that stated 7,000-11,000 troops to be present in the area, to take firm grip of the region for several Chinese projects, including laying of roads and pipelines.

The two also discussed other issues concerning improvement of bilateral ties, the sources added. Following 'The New York Times' report of the People’s Liberation Army’s presence in PoK, India had said it was independently verifying the matter, which it dubbed as "serious, if true".

"If true, it would be a matter of serious concern, and we would do all that is necessary to ensure safety and security of the nation," External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Vishnu Prakash, had said on Monday.

The Indian envoy also reportedly conveyed the outrage and anger caused by the Chinese action of denying a visa to Lt General BS Jaswal, Chief in the Indian Army’s Northern Command. The refusal was made on the ground that Jaswal headed the forces of Jammu and Kashmir, which Beijing considers a disputed territory.