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China has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to ease tension in the region heightened by the attack on Indian Parliament but said the initiative for improving their ties should come from the two countries themselves.
A Chinese foreign ministry official Sun Guoxiang while briefing newspersons on Friday about the outcome of the meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Beijing on Thursday evening, said they discussed the tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
"If China has any role to play, we will help relaxation of tensions and improvement of relations between India and Pakistan," said Sun, adding "But the key to the question is for the two countries to solve their dispute in a peaceful manner."
Despite earlier speculation that Musharraf might seek Chinese backing for resolving the Kashmir issue, Sun said that the Pakistani leader only briefed Jiang on the situation. The official said Jiang stressed China's desire to see a peaceful settlement.
Sun said relaxation of tensions and improvement of relations between India and Pakistan not only serves the interests of both countries, but will also contribute to peace and stability in South Asia.
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