After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan warned of ‘bloodbath’ in Kashmir during his recent UNGA speech the United States on Tuesday voiced fears of many countries that following abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s temporary special status, Pakistani terrorists might launch attacks in India, unless Pakistan “keep a lid on terror groups.”

“I think many have concerns that Pakistan keep a lid on terror groups that might conduct cross-border activities as a result of the Kashmir decisions, and I don’t sense that China wants that kind of conflict or would support that,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Randall Shriver, told a Washington audience.

Shriver was responding to a question on China’s support to Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir after India nullified articles 370 and 35A of its Constitution that gave temporary special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir.

“I think it (China’s support to Pakistan on Kashmir) is mostly diplomatic and political support,” Shriver said.

“They (Chinese) have supported Pakistan in the international fora. There is some discussion about whether or not Kashmir would be taken up in the UN, China would support that. But in terms of something beyond that or more active, I don’t see it,” the top Pentagon official said.

China has a long-standing relationship with Pakistan, and they have growing competition with India, he said, adding that India seeks a stable relationship with China.

Referring to the ongoing visit of India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Shriver said the US is having consultations with him. “We have talked about the relationship with China. They want a stable relationship with China, but there’s no doubt that there is growing concern and competition there as well. So I think on a range of issues to include Kashmir, China has leaned toward Pakistan,” Shriver said.

Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, had left Pakistan seeking support from various international organisations like the United Nations Human Rights Council, European Union among others.

Pakistan’s hypocrisy was pointed out by Alice Wells, US Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia after she said Khan’s comments on Kashmir were unhelpful. “A lowering of rhetoric would be welcome, especially between two nuclear powers.”

“I would like to see the same level of concern expressed also about Muslims who are being detained in Western China, literally in concentration-like conditions. And so being concerned about the human rights of Muslims does extend more broadly than Kashmir, and you’ve seen the administration very involved here during the UN General Assembly and trying to shine a light on the horrific conditions that continue to exist for Muslims throughout China,” she said.