India seeking 'political gains' in the name of terror: China

In a veiled reference to India's efforts to declare Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, China on Monday said political gains should not be pursued in the name of counter terrorism.

China also suggested that India was displaying "double standards".

"There should be no double standards on counter-terrorism. Nor should one pursue own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism," China's Vice Foreign Minister Li Baoding said here without naming India and Pakistan.

He was speaking at an interaction with reporters ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to India for the 8th BRICS summit in Goa.

Last week, China again decided to extend "technical hold" to declare Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar - accused of plotting the Mumbai and Pathankot air base terror attacks - as a terrorist.

Beijing earlier too scuttled India's bid at the United Nations.

On Azhar, China says India and Pakistan should have talks on the evidence which New Delhi which claims to have about his role in plotting the killings in India.

On the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Li said Beijing was ready to discuss New Delhi's entry into the 48-member bloc.

However, he reiterated China's role alone was not decisive in admitting India into the elite grouping which regulates global nuclear trade.

"These rules are not to be decided by China alone. On the issue, China and India have maintained good communication and we are ready to continue consultations with India to build consensus and we also hope India can go to other members of the NSG as well," he said.

In June, China opposed India's bid to enter the NSG in its plenary in Seoul, saying India was not signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

--IANS

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