Will China tell Pakistan to end anti-India terrorIJ
It would be naïve to read too much into China's statement that it is “willing” to work with both India and Pakistan on counter-terrorism measures. While it is entirely in the realm of possibility that India and China will create a bilateral template on the issue, it is futile to expect Beijing to exert pressure on Islamabad to crack down on anti-India terror elements. There is nothing in the past record that shows China taking a firm stand in India's favour when it comes to Pakistan-linked terror. On the other hand, Beijing has been more than circumspect in this regard, preferring vague language to plain-speak. Even recently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying dished out the mundane remark that her country “believes the fight against terrorism in all forms will be conducive to peace, stability and security…” China-Pakistan ties are far too deep, and much of that relationship rests on the India factor. Beijing will remain satisfied so long as Pakistan is seen as acting against militant groups such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement that has China in focus creating problems in the Xinjiang Province bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Pakistan Army launched air and ground operations against other groups that have targeted China. For instance, it resorted to air and ground strikes against Uyghur militants affiliated to Al Qaeda. But Beijing cannot be oblivious to the fact that Islamabad has not shown similar zeal in tackling the likes of lashkar-e-Tayyeba and the Haqqani network which have struck at Indian interests, both here and in places such as Afghanistan. If China is indeed serious about tackling terror in the near Asian region, it must confront Pakistan with the reality the latter is not willing to acknowledge: That Pakistan has been patronising and arming terror elements against India. Any doubt on that should have been dispelled by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent admission that his country had indeed backed such groups and individuals in the name of the ‘Kashmir cause'.
Meanwhile, New Delhi needs to realise at the earliest that, for all its successful diplomacy abroad, it cannot hope win over international support beyond what is expressed in words, if it remains hesitant to act in the national interest. Strength is respected, even if it draws some global concern. China itself is a good example, as is Israel. Some flexing of muscles is not always a bad idea. There is another advantage to it: It will compel Beijing to take a clearer stand on the matter, leaving India in no doubt on where the former stands when it comes to the crunch. India cannot wait till eternity for Pakistan to act on terrorists who have caused it harm. It has given Islamabad enough evidence and time, but Pakistan remains defiant. If this be the state of affairs, New Delhi has to take a call, which is difficult but necessary: Should it not resort to a more direct approach to bring the terrorists to justiceIJ