In a categorical statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs today urged India and Pakistan to respect the LoC and resolve the Kashmir issue in keeping with the Lahore declaration.

Replying to a question posed by the official CCTV, MFA spokeswoman, Zhang Qiyue, said China ``sincerely hoped India and Pakistan can earnestly respect the LoC in Kashmir, resume negotiations as soon as possible and seek a fair and reasonable settlement of all their differences including the Kashmir issue in accordance with the spirit and principles enshrined in the Lahore declaration issued jointly by both countries''.

With this first mention of the LoC since the outbreak of the Kargil conflict, China has taken a position similar to that taken by the Group of Eight Western industrialised countries inCologne last week calling on India and Pakistan to respect the LoC, work for an immediate cessation of fighting and a return to the negotiating table in the spirit of the Lahore declaration.

Beijing's reference to the LoC also signifies that all the five Permanent members have strongly advocated the reaffirmation of the LoC, since the other four P-5 members are part of the G-8.

China's rejection of its earlier neutral stance on the Kargil conflict is interesting since it indicates that the appeals made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to Beijing earlier this week were futile.

Today's statement is the clearest enunciation yet of the fundamental change in China's position vis-a-vis the Kashmir issue: That India and Pakistan resolve the issue bilaterally.

Right up to the mid-seventies China had declared its support for the ``just struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination''. The thaw in Sino-Indian relations in the 1980s saw a shift in Beijing's position, with thephrase `self-determination' replaced by references to resolving the Kashmir issue through bilateral negotiations and United Nations resolutions.

Then followed Chinese President Ziang Zemin's visit to New Delhi in 1996, when China advocated that India and Pakistan set aside contentious issues and build a cooperative relationship.

In the post-Pokharan phase, when relations between India and China nose-dived, China once again reverted to its emphasis on the United Nations resolutions for resolving Kashmir, a position which was an anathema to India.

This is the notable element in today's statement. Beijing has stressed resolving the Kashmir issue bilaterally without any reference to the UN resolutions on the dispute.

While China has gone so far, it is still fighting shy of naming the aggressor in the current conflict in Kargil.

But India can draw comfort from the fact that international disapproval of Pakistan's adventurism in Kargil is growing. Over the weekend, British Prime Minister Tony Blair wroteto his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee in which he has drawn attention to the role played by the UK at the Cologne summit meeting of the G-8.

Blair informed Vajpayee that he had spoken to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and reminded him that the Pakistani infiltrators had caused a "serious problem".

Appreciating India's restraint in not violating the LoC, Blair observed that India had won the "sympathy and support" of the international community with its "measured response to the Pakistani provocations".

Pakistan continued to be at the receiving end of international disapprobation with reports of the US and Australia ticking off Islamabad for its incursions across the Line of Control in Kashmir.

The United States has reiterated its position that the Kashmir issue be resolved diplomatically and that Pakistan should call back its forces from across the LOC. Replying to questions in a question and answer session after her return from the G-8 Summit, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,said the infiltrators had to be withdrawn, especially those supported by Pakistani forces.

Australia, too has appreciated India's mature handling of the Kargil conflict. In Canberra, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said despite provocative actions, the "Indians have so far not retaliated in a manner that could have been, in our view, disproportionate".