Visa issue: Chinese envoy meets MEA officials

NEW DELHI - Amid reports that Lieutenant General BS Jaswal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command was denied a visa to visit China, the country’s envoy Zhang Yan met officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here today.

As per reports, Zhang Yan has been asked to explain the refusal of permission to Lt. General Jaswal to visit that country because, as per the Chinese, he comes from “sensitive” Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian Ambassador to China S Jaishankar was also said to be present during Yan’s interaction with top MEA officials.

Earlier in the day, reacting to reports of suspension of defence exchanges, MEA spokesperson virtually admitted that a problem had arisen as far as the exchanges were concerned. .

The spokesperson said: “We have an important, multifaceted and complex relationship with Republic of China Our interaction has been growing in a number of areas, including defence. In recent years, we have had useful defence exchanges at various levels.”

Referring to the denial of visa to Lt. General Jaswal, he said: “The visit, referred to in a newspaper report today, has not taken place, due to certain reasons,” he said

“While we value our exchanges with China, there must be sensitivity to each others’ concerns. Our dialogue with China on these issues is ongoing,” he added.

As per reports, Lt General Jaswal, was nominated by the government to visit China as part of the regular high-level exchanges between the defence establishments of the two countries.

According to the report, two Chinese defence officials, scheduled to come to India for a course at the National Defence College have been denied permission by Delhi. Moreover, a subsequent visit by Indian military officials to China also stand cancelled. (ANI)