China snubbed, says it favours direct Indo-Pak talks

After being snubbed, China has conveyed to India [ Images ] that it has no intention of playing a broker in India-Pakistan relations and favours direct talks between them.

Beijing [ Images ] has communicated to New Delhi [ Images ] that it respects its stance that there was no role for any third party in mediation of Indo-Pak affairs, Indian government sources said.

China has said there is no change in its position that Indo-Pak relations are bilateral in nature, said the source accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] on his way to Washington.

India was annoyed when a Sino-US joint statement, issued after talks between President Barack Obama [ Images ] and President Hu Jintao in Beijing last week, made a mention of Indo-Pak relations.

India has made it clear that it is not ready to accept "guardianship" of anybody, whether China, the US or any other country, even if mild-handed.

With regard to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq seeking to give China a role on Kashmir [ Images ] issue, the Indian government sources were dismissive, saying he was trying to find a place for himself and emerge a "great mediator".

"Mirwaiz is trying to bring K-word (in China context) which does not exist," a source said referring to the Hurriyat leader's contention on Friday that China has a link with Kashmir issue as Aksai Chin, part of the state, is under its control.