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Paks all-weather friend China blocks India move against terror havens
In yet another show of solidarity with Pakistan, the Chinese side resolutely blocked an Indian effort to include a call for countries not to provide safe havens and sanctuaries to terrorists in the Russia-India-China joint communiqué issued here today.
Even though the Indian suggestion was to mention this in a general way without targeting any country, sources said, China felt that a remote reference like this would also ruffle Pakistani sensitivities a fallout that the Chinese side clearly wanted to avoid.
Its learnt that Russia sought to find a way out by suggesting that the three sides could agree on a joint working group on counter-terrorism which would examine all these aspects. But China did not accept this either. Russian officials ended up telling China that it needs to worry a bit more on terror issues as it pointed to problems brewing in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.China seemed to suggest that it wants to ensure its neutrality in Indo-Pak affairs is not affected. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna disclosed that this was the logic on offer when he raised the Jammu & Kashmir issue with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, on Sunday. In my bilateral meeting, I did refer to a set of bilateral concerns. The Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed to me that he fully understands and that the Chinese side does not want to take sides on this, he said.
While the Indian side hoped that the group of the kind being suggested by Russia may eventually come up, the effort to get a statement on safe havens, similar to what was reached with the US, failed to make headway. But there was some success on the issue of countering the use of information and communication technologies by terrorists, despite the fact that many in the Indian side had anticipated objections from China.The ministers emphasised the importance of joint efforts to counter the use of information and communication technologies for terrorist and criminal purposes, stated the communiqué.
The Chinese line on counter-terrorism, according to reliable sources, was that it would like to stick as close as possible to UN Security Council resolutions on the subject. As a result, like the previous RIC meetings, this one too called for implementation of UN global counter-terrorism strategy including UNSC resolution 1267 on sanctions against members of the al Qaeda and Taliban as well as their affiliates like the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
The other issue which the Indian side pushed for was a more forward looking language on Indias quest for permanent membership to the UNSC. Here again, at the official level, the Chinese side is said to have remarked that it was quite surprised by US President Barack Obamas positive statement on the issue and needed more consultations. When India tried to probe if a mention on this could be part of the communiqué, the indication was that this would be addressed bilaterally when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits India next month.Still, there was marginal improvement in the communiqué which also called for comprehensive reform of the United Nations besides praising Indias contribution. The ministers of China and Russia appreciated the role played by India in international affairs and welcomed Indias election to the UN Security Council for the 2011-2012 term, and looked forward to deepening cooperation with India within the Council.
China, in fact, said it would like to establish a dialogue mechanism between both countries so that they could coordinate their positions in the UNSC during Indias term. However, when asked, Krishna explained: The UNSC permanent membership is in a way linked to UN reforms which was discussed and they wanted India play a bigger role.