China and Turkey on Friday threw their weight behind the international community’s efforts to seek a “peaceful resolution” to the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

Beijing backed US President Donald Trump’s recent offer of mediation between Pakistan and India in the Kashmir issue, Express Tribune reported.

“We support the international community, the US included, in playing a constructive role in improving Pakistan-India relations through dialogue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement issued in Beijing.

“We hope the two countries can peacefully settle the Kashmir issue and other bilateral disputes through dialogue, and make concerted efforts to safeguard peace and stability in South Asia,” she added.

Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also telephoned Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss bilateral ties as well as developments in the region, including Kashmir and ongoing efforts for Afghan peace, the Express Tribune reported.

The support by China and Turkey is seen as another diplomatic victory for Pakistan at a time when the visit of Imran Khan to the United States effectively neutralised Indian efforts to isolate Islamabad globally.

Officials said positive moves on the diplomatic front were the result of prime minister’s successful visit to the US.

In his first visit since becoming the prime minister, Imran, even independent observers agree, pulled off a diplomatic coup in Washington with his positive and constructive engagements not only with President Trump but with other US figures also.

Imran was invited to the White House primarily to discuss the Afghan endgame but Trump’s unprecedented statement offering mediation in the Kashmir dispute stole the limelight.

Kashmiri rights activist welcomes Trump’s mediation offer on IoK

What was more signification was Trump’s revelations that even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested him to play the role of mediator between Pakistan and India.

New Delhi, however, was quick to reject Trump’s statement. Nevertheless, uproar in India suggested that the neighbouring country was upset over Pakistan once again being at the centre stage for the Afghan peace process. (Express Tribune)