China can’t have double standards on terrorism: V K Singh

KOLKATA, May 7:  After China blocked India’s bid at the United Nations to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, the neighbouring country was told that it cannot have double standards on terrorism, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh today said.

“We have conveyed to China in very clear terms that you cannot have two standards on terrorism. You cannot say that you don’t accept or you are against terrorism and at the same time you support a leader of a terrorist outfit,” Singh said.

India’s view has been conveyed to China at many fora, including the External Affairs ministry, the former Army chief said here on the sidelines of a seminar by Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regional Studies Kolkata (CENERS-K).

Last month China had blocked India’s bid at the UN to ban Azhar, the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief and mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack.

The UN had banned JeM but India’s efforts seeking a ban on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, too, did not fructify as China did not allow the ban.

When asked about India’s objections to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the minister said, “There are problems. It is through a territory which belongs to India and India has raised its concerns and has told China about it.”

“Let’s see. Once we have expressed our point you need to consider what exactly is the status of that territory. We will wait a bit to see what China says about it,” Singh said.

Asked when was the reply expected from China, he said such things do not have a time limit for response. (AGENCIES)