The first China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passenger bus service between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China will start operations from November 3. (File)

A day after India lodged protests with China and Pakistan over a proposed bus service between the two nations through PoK, Beijing on Thursday distanced itself from the territorial dispute, saying it was firm on its principled stance on the Kashmir issue. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation.

“On the issue of Kashmir, China’s position is clear-cut. Cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China’s principled position on Kashmir,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

The first China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passenger bus service between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China will start operations from November 3, coinciding with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s maiden visit to Beijing. On Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the bus service would be a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Asked about India’s protest, Kang said he was not aware of it. Defending the $60 billion CPEC, Kang said the project was not targetted against any “third party”.

The Pakistan-China bus service will be run by a private transport company, North-South Transport Network, and will run four days a week from Lahore to Tashkurgan. State-run Radio Pakistan said the journey would be 30-hour-long and a one-way ticket would cost Rs 13,000. A return journey has been priced at Rs 23,000. Passengers will be served breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, tea, and snacks along with Wi-Fi service.