India wants China to hear world's voice on terrorism, back Azhar ban

Days after China again blocked India's bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council's 1,267 sanctions committee, New Delhi on Wednesday hoped Beijing will hear the world's voice on terrorism and not remain rigid with its support to a terrorist. 

India is confident that it would be able to persuade China to understand the depth and evil of the terrorism menace even as it continues to point out ‘absurdity’ of the decision of the 1,267 committee of not designating Azhar a global terrorist despite 14 out of 15 countries being in favour.

"We really do expect China to hear the voice of the world, not just voice of India on terrorism. Terrorism is a snake that bites the hand that feeds it and China needs to understand the reality. If we do not recognise the dangers of terrorism, we might hurt others a bit but we will wound ourselves far more," Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said at a joint Press conference with his colleague Gen (Retd) VK Singh.

Akbar said China has its own problem of terrorism which it addresses at bilateral agreements. "We hope and are sure that China can be pursuaded to see the depth and evil of the menace," Akbar said.

While referring to Pakistan's support to cross border terrorism, Akbar said that as a responsible and a mature nation, China will understand the double standards and ‘simply self-defeating and suicidal’ approach of Islamabad to terrorism.

Singh said India will continue to expand the broad range of its ties with China, particularly through people-to-people connections and Chinese investments to India, even as it seeks common ground on concerns. Apart from using its might to protect Azhar, China has also created hurdles for India at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership meetings where New Delhi's application is being considered. On China's opposition to India's membership of the NSG, Singh said Government was engaging with all countries to make them understand its concerns and credentials. "We are sure that with our record and credentials, we will be taken as a member as per the procedures. We are engaging everybody equally to ensure our concerns and credentials are understood by everybody," Singh added.