‘China aware of India’s concerns on Azhar’

Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, center, answers a reporter's question during a press conference at the conclusion of the BRICS Summit in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian Province, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. India's foreign secretary says the leaders of China and India have emphasized that peace and tranquility in their border areas is a "prerequisite" for the further development of their relationship. At left is Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar and Vijay Gokhale, the Indian ambassador to China is at right. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China is well aware of India’s concern regarding Pakistan-based Masood Azhar, leader of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The MEA’s statement came a day after China blocked India’s latest bid to place Azhar under the 1267 Counter-terror Committee of the U.N. Security Council, which argued that China’s block on the initiative that came on Thursday, would not scuttle India’s global counter-terror campaign.

“On this issue we have taken up the matter with the Chinese side at different levels, including at the highest level. So our concern on this issue is very well known to the Chinese,” said spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, explaining that the issue of designating Masood Azhar has been part of an ongoing dialogue with Beijing.

India reacted strongly after China blocked a proposal sponsored by U.S., France and U.K., pushing India’s case against Masood Azhar, for the 15-member UNSC committee, saying that ‘double standards’ will not help defeat terrorism. But the MEA on Friday said Azhar’s organisation remains a banned organisation and India will continue to push for a global ban on him.

“A lot of countries have already joined our determined effort to fight terrorism and this block by China will not impact our quest, and our resolve to ensure that the territory of India and we all remain safe, continues,” Mr Kumar said.