Srinagar, June 22 -- For over seven decades, the Kashmir conflict has been viewed as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan-a lingering legacy of partition, nationalism, war, and diplomacy. Yet, beneath this conventional framing lies a third power whose quiet moves have grown louder with time: China. Though Beijing often maintains an official position of neutrality on the Kashmir question, its presence in the region-economically, militarily, and territorially-speaks volumes. As the geopolitics of South Asia shift in the 21st century, it has become increasingly clear that China is no longer a distant observer. It is now a direct stakeholder in the dispute, casting a growing shadow over India-Pakistan relations and adding a new layer ...