India, China discuss terror, but no word on Azhar ban

India and China agreed to continue "the pace of high level exchanges" on subjects of mutual interest and concern, including counter-terrorism, during a meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, an official statement said on Saturday.

The statement was silent on whether the two sides had discussed issues related to India's NSG membership or India's move for a ban on Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar.

Doval met with Yang, the Chinese State Councillor, on Friday in Hyderabad. It was Yang's third visit to India in the last two months.

Doval and Yang are the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question of India and China.

"The discussions, conducted in a friendly, open and cordial environment, covered a wide agenda spanning bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest," according to a Ministry of External Affairs statement.

"They agreed to maintain the pace of high level exchanges including in the political, economic, defence and counter-terrorism fields."

The statement said the officials also agreed that the forthcoming high level engagement on counter-terrorism "is yet another manifestation of growing convergence of views of the two countries on this pressing challenge facing international community".

However, there was no word if Doval raised the issues related to China hindering India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The statement also didn't mention if they discussed China's vetoing of Indian efforts to get Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, banned by the United Nations.

However, the statement said, "the two leaders agreed that their consultations during which they exchanged views on various important and pressing bilateral issues have helped to enhance mutual understanding and will contribute to greater mutual trust".

"The two sides appreciated that 2016 is an important year for bilateral engagement with President Xi Jinping's visit to India for BRICS Summit and PM Modi's visit to China for G-20 Summit being the major highlights of high level exchanges.

The two officials also "agreed to hold the 20th Round of Special Representatives Talks on the Boundary Question in India next year."

--IANS

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