Beijing:
China's invitation to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for a visit is "unrelated" to India allowing the Dalai Lama to tour Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese scholars said on Monday as they asserted that Beijing was "not that petty-minded to take revenge."
Chinese experts, quoted by People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party say China as well as its affiliate Global Times, say China is not interfering in the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan despite Beijing's invitation to the Mirwaiz.
Farooq's expected visit to China comes after the Dalai Lama toured Arunachal Pradesh, the northeastern state which Beijing says is disputed.
The reports noted that there is speculation that China's move to invite the Mirwaiz is "a counter-measure" by Beijing.
Commenting on the issue, Wang Dehua, a prominent scholar on South Asia studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, ruled out such speculation, saying the visits are unrelated.
"Though some people in India attempt to pressure China by inviting the Dalai, we are not that petty-minded to revenge," Wang said.
Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for South Asia at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said that India remains highly vigilant against China, which, he said, is unnecessary.