Deep shock, says China, unmoving on Masood Azhar

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also wrote to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui said Wang condemned the attack, expressed deep sympathy to families of the victims and injured, and stressed that the Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism.

More than 15 hours after the worst terror attack in the Valley, China Friday condemned the “suicide terrorist attack” and expressed “deep shock”, but did not budge from its position on the terror listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also wrote to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui said Wang condemned the attack, expressed deep sympathy to families of the victims and injured, and stressed that the Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale also met Luo in Delhi and conveyed to him India’s expectation that Azhar must be listed as a global terrorist under UN Security Council resolution 1267.

China has been single-handedly blocking India’s bid to designate Masood Azhar, who Beijing condemns, but doesn’t yield on Jaish chief heads the UN-proscribed JeM, as a “global terrorist”.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a media briefing: “China has noted the reports of suicide terrorist attack. We are deeply shocked by this attack. We express deep condolences and sympathy to the injured and bereaved families.”

In response to questions on the Pulwama attack, Geng said China condemned the incident as part of its overall stand on terrorism. “We firmly oppose and strongly condemn all forms of terrorism. We hope relevant regional countries will cooperate to cope with the threat of terrorism and jointly uphold regional peace and stability,” he said.

Courtesy : The Indian Express