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Aziz to brief Beijing on Kargil today

China has reiterated that India and Pakistan should resolve the current conflict in Jammu and Kashmir ''peacefully to avoid a deterioration of the situation''.

On Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh's visit to Beijing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue said, ''We are confident that through the efforts of the two sides relations between China and India will constantly improve and develop.

''It is against this backdrop that we are expecting the visit of the Indian foreign minister to China,'' Qiyue said.

This would be the highest-level of talks between India and China since New Delhi conducted nuclear tests in May 1998.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz would brief Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan today on the Kargil issue, diplomats said.

Aziz's trip had the appearance of hastily arranged diplomacy, although the Pakistani embassy described the visit as routine. Both Islamabad and Beijing announced the visit in terse statements.

After a day in Beijing, Aziz would head for Delhi for talks with India.

UNI

The Kargil Crisis

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