Ufa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday “strongly†and “clearly†conveyed India’s concern to President Xi Jinping over China blocking a proposal for action by the UN against Pakistan on the release of jailed Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. India rejected the “weak evidence†theory propounded by Beijing in this regard.
In their 85-minute-long meeting in Ufa, Modi reportedly said that Lakhvi’s release is ‘unacceptable’. The two sides felt that the issue should be discussed further at the official level.
Modi voiced India’s concern over the $46-billion economic corridor that China was building with Pakistan as it crossed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly took up the issue [of China blocking the resolution]. He conveyed India’s concerns,†Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told presspersons on the meeting of the two leaders, the fifth between them in one year.
Underlining that the issue was discussed in “some detailâ€, he said: “The Prime Minister expressed our view, how people see it in India.â€
Elaborating, he said, “The Prime Minister made our concerns known very clearly.â€
Asked about the response, he said: “I can assume that the Chinese side was impressed with the clarity and directness in which it was conveyed.â€
Indicating that the issue will now be discussed at the level of officials, the Foreign Secretary said, “It was felt that we should keep talking on this.â€
Asked what would be the format of the discussions, he said officials would take it up from where the leaders had left.
“There is no particular mechanism. The MEA can discuss with the [Chinese] Embassy. There are a range of mechanisms,†he said.
At a meeting of the U.N. Sanctions Committee last month, India had sought action against Pakistan for release of LeT operations commander Lakhvi in the 26/11 trial in violation of a U.N. resolution, but the Chinese representatives blocked the move on grounds that New Delhi did not provide sufficient information.
(With inputs from agencies)