NEW DELHIl:A day after US president Barack Obama gave a monitoring role to China in South Asia particularly between India and Pakistan, New Delhi has made it clear that a third party intervention in Indo-Pak issues would not be tolerated.

“Government of India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through a peaceful bilateral dialogue in accordance with the Simla Agreement,” said a Ministry of External Affairs statement, issued by spokesperson Vishnu Prakash, in response to yesterday’s joint US-China statement. “A third country role cannot be envisaged nor is it necessary. We also believe that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can take place only in an environment free from terror or the threat of terror” the statement added.

The US-China joint statement has clearly mentioned China’s role in

Indo-Pak issues.

“They (US and China) support the efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight terrorism, maintain domestic stability and achieve sustainable economic and social development and support the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan,” said the joint statement issued in Beijing during President Obama’s visit. Obama’s recognition of China’s role in all South Asian affairs has not gone down well with the Indian

media as well.

“This is a rare occasion when a US President has acknowledged that Beijing has a role to play in the India-Pakistan relationship. The move, if serious, runs counter to predictions of US foreign policy experts that the US would not

acquiesce in a future Chinese hegemony in the region,” commented a news report in Times of India.