China must hear voice of world on terror: India on Azhar issue

In a clear message to China on JeM chief Masood Azhar, whose designation as global terrorist it has been blocking, India on Wednesday asked Beijing to hear the “voice of the world” on terrorism.

India hoped it would be able to pursuade China to understand the “depth and evil” of the menace. Referring to Pakistan’s support to terror, India also hoped 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. 

“We really do expect China to hear the voice of the world, not just voice of India on terrorism,” Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said at a joint press conference with his ministerial colleague Gen (retd) VK Singh, while presenting MEA’s achievments in the last two-and-half years. 

On China’s opposition to India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group, Singh said government was engaging with all concerned to make them understand its “concerns” and “credentials”, hoping that Beijing will end its resistance.

Referring to China blocking India’s proposal at the UN to list Masood Azhar as a terrorist, Akbar said, “Terrorism is a snake that bites the hand that feeds it” and that Beijing needs to understand the reality. Hoping to pursuade China to reverse its position, the Minister said, “If we do not recognise the dangers of terrorism, we might hurt others a bit but we will wound ourselves far more.”