In this handout photograph released by The Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on July 8, 2015, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping ahead of a meeting in Ufa on the sidelines of the BRICS emerging economies summit. PHOTO: AFP
Defending its move to block India's demand in UN to take action against Pakistan for the release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, China on Thursday said its stand was based on ‘facts’ and in the spirit of ‘objectiveness and fairness.’
"As a permanent member of the UN security council China always deals with the 1,267 committee matters based on facts and in the spirit of objectiveness and fairness," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters, according to Times of India.
The statement comes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping India’s ‘anger’ at China’s blocking of Delhi’s demand at the UN for action over Pakistan’s release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Terming Modi-Xi talks as "constructive and inclusive", Chunying said China has maintained good communication with India and other parties on the Lakhvi issue.
About India's concerns over terrorism, she said, "I can tell you that both India and China are victims of terrorism. China opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the UN playing the leading role in coordinating international cooperation on anti-terrorism. China has actively taken part in global cooperation."
Great meeting President Xi Jinping again. Our talks were comprehensive & a lot of topics came up for discussion. pic.twitter.com/dTFw9QydNV
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2015
Earlier, commenting on the meeting between the two premiers, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said, “The issue of Lakhvi did come up and it was discussed in some detail.”
Regarding Xi’s response, Jasihankar said, “The prime minister made our concerns very clear. The Chinese side was impressed with the clarity with which the PM raised our concerns.”
Further, it is reported during Xi and Modi’s 90-minute meeting, Modi also reiterated India’s concern over the $46 billion China, Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Read: India's Modi to make first visit to rival giant China
The two counterparts also spoke about “accelerating the process” to resolve the long-standing boundary dispute and about India getting a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and in export control regimes like the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Last month, at the UN Sanctions Committee which met at India’s request to seek a clarification from Pakistan on Lakhvi’s release in the Mumbai attacks trial, China blocked the move on grounds that India did not provide sufficient information
Read: Modi protests China's veto on Indian motion for UN action against Pakistan
Modi had voiced concerns over China’s move to veto the UN action against Pakistan for releasing alleged Mumbai terror mastermind Lakhvi.
India approached the UN last month against Lakhvi’s release in April from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Lakhvi was formally released from Adiala Jail after he submitted surety bonds of Rs2 million, following the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict declaring his detention orders illegal.
Read: India seeks UN intervention over Lakhvi’s release
Lakhvi was arrested in 2008 after an FIR was registered against him based on the information provided by Indian authorities. On November 25, 2009, Lakhvi was indicted along with six others for planning and helping to carry out the Mumbai attacks. An anti-terrorism court granted him bail against Rs500,000 surety bonds on December 18, 2014. The same day, a local magistrate issued a detention order for one month. On December 29, 2014, Islamabad High Court set aside the detention order and directed the authorities to release him. The Okara DCO ordered his detention on March 12 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
Earlier, Modi also met Russian President Vladimir Putin who told him India's accession into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has begun.
Read: India to become permanent SCO member, Putin tells Modi
Further, Modi is also expected to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Hindustan Times.
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