External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Kathmandu and raised the issue of >Beijing blocking India’s bid at the U.N. to seek action against Pakistan for releasing 26/11 mastermind Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
At a meeting held on the sidelines of an international conference, Ms. Swaraj is learnt to have conveyed to the Chinese Minister that Lakhvi was “no ordinary terrorist” and highlighted his role in scripting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said Ms. Swaraj pointed out that China too had faced terror strikes and its decision to veto India’s bid at the 1267 committee was “at variance” with the progress in ties between the two countries. The Chinese Foreign Minister, the spokesperson said, assured India that China would look into the matter and that there was no reason why Beijing and India cannot cooperate on anti-terrorism efforts.
Mr. Wang reiterated that China was opposed to all forms of terrorism. After China blocked India’s attempt to seek action against Pakistan on the grounds that there was not enough evidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue with China.
