India on Wednesday said that China is following “double standard” on terrorism and asked Beijing to support its campaign to blacklist Pakistan-based terror mastermind Masood Azhar.
Addressing the mid-term press conference of the MEA to mark two-and-a-half years of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar said China’s block at the 1267 committee of the UN Security Council that prevented India from blacklisting the terror boss was “self-defeating”.
‘Listen to world’s voice’
“China should listen to the voice of the world and we hope that Beijing can be persuaded to see the evil of the menace,” said Mr. Akbar and added, “as a responsible and mature nation, China will understand the double standards of this self-defeating purpose,” said Mr. Akbar.
Reiterating the government’s position on terror, Mr. Akbar said India had zero tolerance for terrorism. “Talks and terror do not, cannot go together,” he said, emphasising that the government would consider dialogue with Pakistan only after cross-border terror ends.
The press conference, led by both Ministers of State for External Affairs, V.K. Singh, and Mr. Akbar projected the diplomatic trajectory of the Modi government since May 2014 and acknowledged that despite tranquillity on India-China border, there remained “divergences” in bilateral ties, including China’s stand on Pakistan-based terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Mr. Akbar’s was the first Minister-level response from India after China blocked India’s New Year eve bid to blacklist Masood Azhar under the counter-terror 1267 committee of the UN Security Council. Following the block, Pakistan had criticised India’s move as “politically motivated”.
Surgical strike, a message
India, however, was not in favour of stalling dialogue with Pakistan on the need to stop cross-border terrorism as it had delivered the necessary message to Pakistan and the world, with the surgical strike of September 28, Mr. Akbar said.
“You can see the situation in our neighbouring country. It is a regrettable situation,” said Mr. Akbar, referring to Pakistan.
Mr. Singh also highlighted that the surgical strike of September 28, ten days after the Uri attack, had delivered the expected results.
“The aim of the surgical strike was — we have sent a message to the whole world that terrorism will not be acceptable as the new normal,” said Mr. Singh.
The press conference highlighted the government’s campaigns at the UN, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and stated that it remains focused on the smooth implementation of the “neighbourhood first” policy to ensure better ties with Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other members of the region.
