China must realise 'depth and evil' of terrorism: India's junior foreign minister
Follow UsIndia's minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar on Wednesday said that India expects China to 'hear the voice of the world on terrorism'.
Akbar said he hoped China will realise the 'depth and evil' of terrorism as they deal with terror in their own country.
"We do expect China to hear the voice of the world on terrorism, not just the voice of India," he said at a joint press conference with his ministerial colleague Gen (retd) VK Singh.
"We hope China, as a matured and responsible nation will understand that double standards are simple self-defeating, even suicidal. China has its own terrorist problems. China recognises them, addresses them in bilateral agreements. We hope and we are sure that China can be persuaded to see the depth and evil of this menace. 14 out of 15 members perhaps agree on this."
On China's opposition to India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Gen (retd) VK Singh said the government was engaging with all concerned to make them understand its "concerns" and "credentials", hoping that Beijing will end its resistance.
On Tuesday, interior minister Rajnath Singh said that India was pursuing China to declare Azhar an international terrorist, PTI reported.
"We are pursuing China to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar an international terrorist," Singh said.
Commenting on China blocking India's move to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a United Nations designated terrorist, Akbar said he hoped 'Pakistan will see the path of reason'.
"The engagement with Pakistan needs to continue as has been said and was first stated by Vajpayee ji. We have to deal with them. We deal with them eyes open, but we don't deal with them with minds closed. In that respect, the talk of inflammation doesn't necessarily help. We hope that Pakistan will see the path of reason. We hope Pakistan's friends will persuade it to see the path of reason," he said.
(With inputs from PTI and DNA)