China offers to discuss Lakhvi issue with India

Barely a week after India raised concerns over China’s move to block sanctions against Pakistan over release of Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, China has agreed to discuss the issue with India in the joint mechanism on counter-terrorism to be held in the second half of this year.

“Both India and China are victims of terrorism. We have similar positions on this. We are working quite well in this field. We are opposed terrorism all forms,” said Huang Xilian, Deputy Director General of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Reiterating that India and China shared similar positions on terrorism at the United Nations, Mr Huang said. “We have effective mechanism of counter-terrorism consultation. It is quite effective and we should make full use of this mechanism to promote understanding and cooperation.”

Earlier, the Chinese representatives had blocked India’s move in the UN Sanctions Committee, which was organised at India’s request to seek clarification from Pakistan over Lakhvi’s release in the 26/11 trial, by saying that India did not provide sufficient information. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji had sent a letter to the current Chair of the UN Sanctions Committee Jim McLay asserting Lakhvi’s release was in violation of the 1267 UN resolution.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had raised India’s concerns with the Chinese leadership over this issue.

Besides the Lakhvi case, China had also put a hold on India’s demand from the UN Security Council to take action against LeT aba leader Hafeez Sayed and Hizbul Mujahudeen Chief Syed Salahuddin.

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