India hosts G20 tourism meet in Kashmir under heavy security
A Group of 20 (G20) tourism meeting is set to begin in Indian-administered Kashmir amid high security, with China and Pakistan condemning holding the event in the disputed region.
The Himalayan territory of Kashmir is the cause of a dispute between India and Pakistan since their independence 75 years ago. The two nuclear powers - who claim it in entirety but rule over parts of it - have fought two of their three full-scale wars over the territory.
The Indian portion of Kashmir, the country’s only Muslim-majority region, has been roiled for decades by an armed rebellion seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan, with tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and Kashmiri rebels killed in the conflict.
Police said last week that security had been beefed up 'to avoid any chance of terrorist attack during the G20' meeting, the first diplomatic event in the disputed region since New Delhi revoked its limited autonomy and took direct control in 2019.
The three-day gathering starting Monday will take place at a sprawling, well-guarded venue on the shores of Dal Lake in Srinagar.
'China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meeting in disputed territory and will not attend such meetings,' foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Friday.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are reportedly also unlikely to join, according to a report by the AFP news agency.
.png "Advertisement")
