Masood Azhar's actions are 'well documented', 'burden of proof' not on India: Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to China

India on Wednesday hit out at China for demanding "solid evidence" for getting JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN.

Pic courtesy: ANI (File Photo)

Delhi: Reacting to China's "solid evidence" demand, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said on Wednesday that the extent of JeM chief Masood Azhar's actions were "well documented" and the "burden of proof" was not on India.

"On the issue of 1267 Committee's sanctions on Masood Azhar, we again explained the rationale for that application and pointed out that this was really pursued by other countries, not by India alone," Jaishankar said, referring to the US' application backed by the UK and France this year to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

On the Chinese Foreign Ministry calling for "solid eveidence" to get Azhar banned, Jaishankar said, "in the case of Azhar, Jaish itself is proscribed under 1267. So the proof is in (the) 1267 Committee action. In this case what he has done, extent of his actions are well-documented."

"Also the proposal in question this time is not moved by us. It is not that the burden of proof is on India to convince. The sponsors seem to be very well convinced, otherwise they would not have taken the initiative to move the proposal," he said.

About China saying that there is no consensus on the issue, the Foreign Secretary said, "there is no consensus because China has not joined it", as per PTI.

Since the 1267 Committee proceedings are not public, he said, "Our understanding is that there is overwhelming support in the 1267 (Committee). This (is) what we are told".

"Other countries should be asked. The 1267 Committee is not for public. Our understanding (is that) there is overwhelming support in the 1267 (Committee). This (is) what we are told," Jaishankar said.

 "I would say, overall, I felt my visit was certainly useful in conveying to the Chinese side our concerns and priorities and gaining from them an appreciation and their understanding of the world situation and in what manner we could work together," he said.

He also said, "Reviewed entirety of our relationship, both bilateral side and international, regional issues," he said post India-China strategic dialogue.

The FS added, "Held discussions on areas including Afghanistan, multilateral diplomacy including counter-terror and bilateral relations and nuclear issues."

"On NSG issue, Chinese side underlined that they were open to India’s application for membership but had their view of procedures and these were somewhat different from where we're at the moment and where we think most of the group is at the moment," Jaishankar further revealed.

Jaishankar also said, "Discussed concerns about trade deficit. It was agreed that joint economic group that's headed by CI will meet early to review this," as per ANI.

About Chinese investment for which India has been making a big pitch for in the past few years, Jaishankar said Chinese officials said the investments have gone up by seven times. Official media has been saying the Chinese investments amounted to USD 1.06 billion.

"In terms of forward progress, there was recognition that investment climate has improved and Chinese investments have gone up substantially and the fact that visas and exchanges were going much better," he said.

Jaishankar also said high-level visits of Chinese leaders to India are being discussed but they are still under finalisation.

Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this morning before co-chairing the strategic dialogue with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui.

This is the first time China has fielded an executive Vice Minister who is also the head of the Foreign Ministry unit of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

He had arrived in China yesterday from Sri Lanka.

Yesterday, Jaishankar had held talks with China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi during which they had expressed strong commitment to develop positive relations despite differences over Beijing's reluctance to support India's NSG bid as well as a UN ban on Azhar.

Yang is the state councillor and Beijing's special representative for border talks between India and China.

In Chinese official hierarchy, state councillor of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) is regarded as the top diplomat functioning directly under the country's leadership.

(With Agency inputs)