A source said the government has been in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, apart from continuing talks between the Indian and Chinese Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on the issue.
Despite its “disappointment” over China’s decision to place a hold on the terror listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations this week, the government indicated on Saturday that it would continue its efforts to convince Beijing, rather than adopt a collision course with it.
A source said the government has been in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, apart from continuing talks between the Indian and Chinese Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on the issue.
In an interview to a television channel, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also confirmed the government’s stand that it would show “patience” and “persistence” in securing the designation despite being blocked by China for more than a decade.
“We have been speaking to China. We are assured that it may take time, but China will eventually fall in line with us. I am totally convinced of this,” Mr. Singh told CNN-IBN.
‘Only a hold’
The government source pointed out that China has placed only a “hold” on listing Azhar at the 1267 ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions committee, and not a “block”, indicating that it could change its mind in the next few months.
However, the hopes may be unfounded given that in previous years from 2008-2010, and 2016-2018 when India had pursued and supported listing proposals at the UNSC, China had first placed a similar hold on the listing, citing “inadequate information”. A few months later, China had converted the hold to a permanent block or veto.
India has chosen not to name China publicly in its statements in the past week, referring only to “one country” blocking its efforts on Masood Azhar. In February 2017, however, India had been directly critical of China’s block.
When asked how long the government’s patience would last, the source said it could take “days or months” but hopefully not years, adding that India was “in this for the long haul”.
Rejecting recent media reports that India planned to push for an open discussion in Security Council to confront China and force it to accept the designation of Masood Azhar or to be forced to defend the terrorist publicly, the source said this was not India’s strategy, but didn’t rule out the possibility that the listing sponsors U.S., U.K. and France could pursue it.
The government has also highlighted growing support for the proposal in the UN for listing Azhar and for naming Pakistan for supporting terror groups on its soil. On Friday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had issued a series of tweets defending the government against the allegation its efforts on the issue had resulted in “failure”.
“In 2019, the proposal was moved by USA, France and UK and supported by 14 of the 15 UN Security Council Members and also co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan – non members of the Security Council,” Ms. Swaraj had tweeted in response to severe criticism by opposition parties on the outcome of the listing effort on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had also discussed Pakistan- based terrorism with officials of the U.S. administration and members of Congress during his three day visit to Washington this week, the source said.
Mr. Gokhale explained to them that steps announced by Pakistan thus far after the Pulwama attack had been “cosmetic” in nature, and amounted to only changing the name boards outside buildings run by Jamaat-ud Dawa and Jaish-e-Mohammad, and changes in leaders. The source also said the U.S. had taken note of India’s concerns about F-16 fighter planes being used by Pakistan for “offensive action” against military targets in Jammu and Kashmir, and said the government expected a “public statement” from the U.S. administration on the issue soon.
‘Patient’ India to work with China on Masood Azhar UNSC listing
A source said the government has been in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, apart from continuing talks between the Indian and Chinese Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on the issue.
Despite its “disappointment” over China’s decision to place a hold on the terror listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations this week, the government indicated on Saturday that it would continue its efforts to convince Beijing, rather than adopt a collision course with it.
A source said the government has been in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, apart from continuing talks between the Indian and Chinese Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on the issue.
In an interview to a television channel, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also confirmed the government’s stand that it would show “patience” and “persistence” in securing the designation despite being blocked by China for more than a decade.
“We have been speaking to China. We are assured that it may take time, but China will eventually fall in line with us. I am totally convinced of this,” Mr. Singh told CNN-IBN.
‘Only a hold’
The government source pointed out that China has placed only a “hold” on listing Azhar at the 1267 ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions committee, and not a “block”, indicating that it could change its mind in the next few months.
However, the hopes may be unfounded given that in previous years from 2008-2010, and 2016-2018 when India had pursued and supported listing proposals at the UNSC, China had first placed a similar hold on the listing, citing “inadequate information”. A few months later, China had converted the hold to a permanent block or veto.
India has chosen not to name China publicly in its statements in the past week, referring only to “one country” blocking its efforts on Masood Azhar. In February 2017, however, India had been directly critical of China’s block.
When asked how long the government’s patience would last, the source said it could take “days or months” but hopefully not years, adding that India was “in this for the long haul”.
Rejecting recent media reports that India planned to push for an open discussion in Security Council to confront China and force it to accept the designation of Masood Azhar or to be forced to defend the terrorist publicly, the source said this was not India’s strategy, but didn’t rule out the possibility that the listing sponsors U.S., U.K. and France could pursue it.
The government has also highlighted growing support for the proposal in the UN for listing Azhar and for naming Pakistan for supporting terror groups on its soil. On Friday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had issued a series of tweets defending the government against the allegation its efforts on the issue had resulted in “failure”.
“In 2019, the proposal was moved by USA, France and UK and supported by 14 of the 15 UN Security Council Members and also co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan – non members of the Security Council,” Ms. Swaraj had tweeted in response to severe criticism by opposition parties on the outcome of the listing effort on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had also discussed Pakistan- based terrorism with officials of the U.S. administration and members of Congress during his three day visit to Washington this week, the source said.
Mr. Gokhale explained to them that steps announced by Pakistan thus far after the Pulwama attack had been “cosmetic” in nature, and amounted to only changing the name boards outside buildings run by Jamaat-ud Dawa and Jaish-e-Mohammad, and changes in leaders. The source also said the U.S. had taken note of India’s concerns about F-16 fighter planes being used by Pakistan for “offensive action” against military targets in Jammu and Kashmir, and said the government expected a “public statement” from the U.S. administration on the issue soon.
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