Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12

China today offered to play a “constructive”’ role in improving ties between India and Pakistan. With the standoff in Sikkim nearing almost a month and the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the statement is bound to aggravate India and the situation further. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)India has always maintained that Kashmir issue is a bilateral one. China’s statement comes a day after its media suggested that a “third” country’s army could enter Jammu and Kashmir on Pakistan’s request, using the same logic that India has to stop  Chinese troops from constructing a road in Doklam. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: “The conflict occurred near the Line of Control in Kashmir. This will not only harm peace and stability in the two countries, but also of the region.”He hoped the two sides would do more to prevent   escalating tensions and that China was willing to play a “constructive” role.Only yesterday Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had made a conciliatory statement, suggesting that India and China could manage their border disputes.