It is a matter of great satisfaction that Chinese President Hu Jintao has told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in no uncertain terms that China will continue to treat Kashmir as a disputed territory and therefore will not stamp visas on Indian passports to the people of Kashmir. Just the other day, Chinese Spokesperson had also stated in unambiguous terms that under no circumstances would China change its position on Kashmir. At a time when the entire Western world led by the US has run out of moral courage to question the Indian stand on Kashmir and even condones the atrocities committed on a daily basis by the Indian security forces, Chinese reassurance to stand by the Kashmiris and support them deserves unqualified praise. New Delhi should realise that its longstanding wish of broadening economic ties with Beijing, no doubt shared by the Chinese, would have better prospects of success, if Kashmir and Arunchal that Beijing claims its territory were out of the way. With Indias record of aggression and hegemonic designs, it would not be easy for a neighbour to extend it a genuine hand of friendship. The Indians of course picked up a fight with the Chinese in 1962 over border demarcation and tensions on this issue continue to prevail but another reason why President Hu Jintao cold shouldered Manmohan Singh was to bring home to him the reality that Kashmir is a nuclear flashpoint that needs immediate settlement. Concurrently, the Pakistani leadership ought to be more vocal in pushing India to move towards an equitable solution. Not surprisingly, it has been criticised by US Commander of Pacific Command Admiral Richard Willard who stated the other day that the Kashmir issue did not seem to be getting near a resolution any time soon and that was a cause of the Pakistani government being indecisive about the war on terror. The Commander again talked about the fact both the neighbours were armed with nuclear weapons and needed to end the prevailing atmosphere of hostility. Islamabad must change its policy and make the Kashmir dispute as the only item on the agenda of talks with India. It would serve as a befitting reply to Indias constant call for making terrorism the focus of bilateral talks. Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishnas statement that negotiations with Pakistan would continue and perpetrators of Mumbai attacks would be brought to justice is a manifestation of an Indian ploy to divert attention from the core issue of Kashmir. Caution is likewise needed in the case of cricket diplomacy because it seems the Indians are using it as a red herring to overshadow the central dispute of Kashmir. In the Chinese steadfast stand on Kashmir there is a lesson for Pakistani leadership. It is perseverance in the principled stand that is the key to the conflicts long-lasting settlement.