China's double standards not acceptable, says defence expert

Defence Expert Brigadier (Retd.) P K Sehgal on Sunday said that China's double standards on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and blocking India's entry into the Nuclear Security Group (NSG) would not be acceptable to India.

"While China stands with you on acceptance of the fact that there should be zero tolerance for terrorism, it also accepts the fact that terrorism in actuality is the ultimate nuisance for the entire world and human kind today. Yet at the same time, it continues to technically block declaration of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist despite the fact that the organization he heads already stands approved as a terrorist organization," Brigadier (Retd.) Sehgal said.

"We also categorically told them that they cannot have double standards as far as NSG is concerned and as far as Masood Azhar is concerned," he added.

Stating India has an impeccable record as far as nuclear aspect is concerned, Brigadier (Retd.) Sehgal pointed out that all 48 countries of the group are backing New Delhi.

"Hence, pressure on China is immense and he (Modi) has told China loud and clear that to hold it against India and to block India becoming a member is something that would not be friendly as far as India is concerned," he added.

China said on Friday it will continue to block India's efforts to ban Pakistan-based militant Masood Azhar and New Delhi's application to join the influential the Nuclear Suppliers Group until a consensus emerged on both issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised China blocking India's calls for the United Nations to designate Masood Azhar, the Pakistan-based leader of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed group, as a terrorist.

"We are maintaining dialogue with China (on Azhar), we expect China will see logic in it," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media.

China was also non-committal on India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a club of nuclear-trading nations.

"The PM said we look forward to working with China to realise India's membership. President Xi said a second round of talks (on NSG) will be held very soon and this would be helpful," said Swarup.

Recognising terrorism as a key issue, India and China on Saturday expressed their desire to strengthen security dialogue and partnership and stressed on maintaining strategic communication and dialogue on the subject.

Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that terrorism and violent extremism were on the increase, and at the same time he alluded to the threat from ISIL, saying India and China must step up their counter-terrorism efforts.