Ufa (Russia): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised the issue of China blocking action against Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over release of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, with President Xi Jinping during delegation-level talks in Russia's Ufa.
Modi met Xi – their fifth meeting in a year – ahead of the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits here.
Great meeting President Xi Jinping again. Our talks were comprehensive & a lot of topics came up for discussion. pic.twitter.com/dTFw9QydNV
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2015
Addressing reporters, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the contentious issue of Lakhvi's release and China's move to block action against Pakistan at the UNSC came up during the talks.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly took up the issue of China blocking the resolution. He conveyed India's concerns,” Jaishankar informed.
"I can assume that the Chinese side was impressed with the clarity and directness in which it was conveyed. It was felt that we should keep talking on that," he added.
At a meeting of the UN 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 UN resolution, but the Chinese representatives blocked the move on grounds that New Delhi did not provide sufficient information.
Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 26/11 terror attack, was released from a Pakistani jail in April.
Our 5th meeting in a year shows the depth of the India - China relationship. PM @narendramodi tells President Xi pic.twitter.com/EUHyayi36G
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) July 8, 2015
Meanwhile, the issue of USD 46 billion China-Pakistan economic corridor passing through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was also taken up during the meeting.
“That corridor project covers PoK. Our concerns were expressed when PM Modi went to China, our concerns were reiterated (today),” Jaishankar said.
As far as India is concerned, it was clearly stated that the corridor passing through PoK is a matter of concern for us, he added.
The Foreign Secretary further informed that the border situation was also discussed in detail during the 85-minute long meeting between PM Modi and President Xi.
They discussed the boundary issue, confidence building measures, issues of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and more meeting points at the border, he said.
Jaishankar said India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council and the Nuclear Suppliers Group membership also came up for discussion.
The Foreign Secretary, meanwhile, did not confirm whether PM Modi will hold a bilateral with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the BRICS and SCO summits.
“When we are in a position to tell you that the meeting is taking place, we will,” he stated.
Also Read: Possibilities there for Modi-Sharif meeting, says Jaishankar
