India urges China to keep distance from ‘terror sponsors’

Speaking at a conference he said sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organisations besides developmental issues like access to cooperation and investments in the field of civil nuclear energy should not emerge as points of difference with a ‘partner’ like China.

He said China was expected to be appreciative of India’s interests, especially when they were not in conflict with those of Beijing, and noted that it was imperative for the future of Asia and the world, that the two nations approached each other with strategic maturity. 

“There is an expectation in India that a partner like China would be appreciative of India’s interests, especially when they are not in conflict with those of China. Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organisations should not emerge as an issue of difference. Nor should reservations on developmental issues, such as India’s predictable access to international cooperation and investments in the field of civil nuclear energy,” Jaishankar said. He was referring to China blocking India’s bid to put Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar’s on UN Security Council blacklist of groups linked to al-Qaeda or Islamic State and India’s entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Admitting that India and China have a “complicated relationship”, the Foreign Secretary said one should not ignore the collaborative and convergent side of the ties as well.

 Without mincing words, the Foreign Secretary tore into Pakistan’s narrative that terror attacks against India were carried out by non-state actors and said the state could not escape responsibility. Speaking at the conference, which was organised by US-based East West Centre, Jaishankar reminded everyone that this was the case after 9/11 attack when countries were told that they could not escape responsibility by saying that non-state actors were involved.

“There is a connect between state actors and non-state actors which is why we use the word ‘sponsored’. So, the state cannot escape responsibility by saying it is non-state. This is not just vis-a-vis India. It was the situation even after 9/11,” Jaishankar said. He underlined that the concept of state and non-state actors is a “false dichotomy”. Jaishankar’s remarks have come at a time as India upped the ante on the issue of “terror export” from the neighbouring country, with PM Narendra Modi raising it at BRICS meet and East Asia Summit, where he called on the international community to isolate and sanction ‘this’ instigator.