A bid by the US to get the UN to include Masood Azhar, the chief of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, as a terrorist has been vetoed by China, according to Indian media, which accused China of pursuing double standards on terror.
It comes weeks after India’s failed efforts last December to get him banned by the UN. Lu Kang, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a press briefing Wednesday that China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult each other.
Chinese analysts said they believe India did not provide enough evidence to support its proposals, as evidence is required not only because of the need to maintain the UN’s authority, but also because of the complexities in the region.
Unlike Indian media’s criticism of China’s veto, Pakistani media reported that people in the country welcome the news, which reflects the deep divisions among people in the two countries.
The India-Pakistan feud has been a thorny issue in South Asia for a long time and China is caught in the middle, given geographic and geopolitical proximities to the two.
The failure to bring the two on the path to peace underscores their different domestic and diplomatic trajectories. Any action the UN takes should assist the peace process rather than escalate tensions between the two. India has its own reasons to have Azhar listed as a terrorist.
However, observers are also worried that under the defense of the counterterrorism crusade, India can increase its military pressure on Pakistan, thus risking escalating tensions between the two countries. What is troublesome is some Indian media view China with prejudice and overly interpret China’s moves, especially after China and Pakistan hastened the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
As a responsible power, China must help maintain regional order. Any India-Pakistan confrontation may bring other players into the region, which would complicate the situation. China supports India’s efforts at curbing terrorism. India can work more to bring all the parties to reach a consensus over the issue, instead of only blaming China for its failed attempts.
China is aware that the terrorism issue is a burning one, and has been trying to work with all stakeholders to crack down on terrorists in the region. China has also set up anti-terror mechanisms with India in this regard.
In the future, China will enhance anti-terror cooperation with India, but regional peace and stability will always be a priority.
Sources:- Global Times
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