ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: China has called upon the international community to adopt an “evenhanded approach” towards Pakistan and India for resolving the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is not fair to exert pressure on Pakistan and the international community should play a balanced role by pursuing an evenhanded approach towards India and Pakistan for settling half-a-century-old Kashmir dispute,” said the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Zhang Chunxiang.

Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, he said his country had specially asked the United States, Russia and Britain to adopt a fair attitude so that Kashmir problem be settled amicably. “We feel that Pakistan is cooperating with the international community on vital issues, including terrorism, therefore, it deserves a fair and an equal treatment,” he added.

The Chinese ambassador praised Pakistan for showing all willingness to lower ongoing tension with India. “The present government is calling for dialogue with India and this should be appreciated by everyone.”

He said China was fully supporting Pakistan for its policy of resolving issue through peaceful means by showing readiness to talk to India at any level and at any place. He expressed the hope that some positive response would also come from India to accept the offer of dialogue from Islamabad.

“Both the countries have fought three wars which did not offer any result, therefore, they have to talk to have a peaceful solution of every dispute,” he said, adding that many countries of the world were talking to each other to resolve their issues and it would be good if both India and Pakistan followed the same path.

The tension in the region, he pointed out, needed to be reduced. “There has been some improvement but the situation is still dangerous because of the massive deployment of troops on borders,” he added.

The ambassador said the Chinese president and other senior authorities were in touch with the world leaders to resolve differences between India and Pakistan peacefully.

Responding to a question, he said the Chinese President in his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpaee in Almaty recently, asked him to hold talks with Pakistan. “Our efforts are still there and we hope to make India and Pakistan sit across the table with the help of the international community,” he asserted.

About Iraq, the Chinese ambassador said the United Nations should take the lead to avoid attack on that country.