Supporting Pakistan hints a scrap..! Now China lifting hold naming Azhar seems just a formality

Beijing, April 21: Amid signs that China may review its position on lifting its technical hold on listing JeM chief, Masood Azhar, as an international terrorist, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale arrived in Beijing on Sunday for bilateral consultations for a two day meet.

 

 

The Indian embassy in China said Gokhale’s visit is for regular bilateral consultations and did not go into specifics. The former ambassador to China is also scheduled to meet China’s state councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

 

China lifting the technical hold on banning Azhar seems to be a formality now. Although banning Azhar will be largely symbolic, the decision when it comes, will be because Beijing is now isolated in UNSC and feels supporting Pakistan on this issues gives it no benefit.

 

“The narrative built around the expectation that Pakistan will have a change of heart that will translate into a change of behaviour in dealing with terrorists has fallen flat. The Balakot strike by India in response to the Pulwama terror attack has brought about a change in the way India has dealt with misadventure from across the border”, said India’s union minister Hardeep Singh Puri in an interview to a strategic news channel.

 

Regarding China putting a technical hold on a UN resolution that seeks to designate Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the former diplomat-turned-union minister said he had a feeling the Chinese won’t play the waiting game for long.

 

Further responding to Pakistani PM Imran Khan admitting that the armed militias in his country are a creation of the Pakistani army, Puri said it’s the admission by a failed military state that cannot have its goons under control.

 

Gokhale arriving ahead of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) - a mega event hosted by China that begins on April 25, will hold talks with China’s State Councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday.

 

There are no signs abide that India will be officially participating in the BRF it, though some members of the business community, academics and media personnel will be present from 37 heads of state.