Talks to declare Masood Azhar 'global terrorist' are in progress, says Chinese envoy

China supports India on combating terrorism and a discussion to declare Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a "global terrorist" is in progress.

New Delhi: China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Friday supported India's efforts in combating terror and said that talks to declare Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a "global terrorist" is currently in progress.

"The discussion is going on. I am so happy to see your Foreign Secretary in Beijing two days ago... discussing everything... so, just wait," Luo told reporters here.

"China supports India and other countries on terrorism... The discussions are going on. It takes time," Luo said on the sidelines of a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre inauguration ceremony.

India on Wednesday reiterated its stand on Azhar and asked China to declare the JeM chief and Pathankot attack mastermind an international terrorist.

Beijing had repeatedly blocked attempts to declare Azhar as a global terrorist under the UN framework.  

A recent proposal by the US to add Azhar to the list of such terrorists was blocked by China, which comes after three other attempts made by India in 2016 had also met with a similar fate.

India's Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar was in Beijing on Wednesday to co-chair the China-India strategic dialogue with the neighbouring country's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and he raised the issue of Masood Azhar during discussions.

Speaking further on bilateral issues, Luo said: "Don`t focus only on this issue. This is important but more important is bilateral cooperation."

He advised the media to focus more on the positive cooperation between India and China.

On the other controversial issue about Chinese opposition to India`s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers` Group (NSG), he said: "It is the same."

On the rise of ISIS in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, the Ambassador said: "The Chinese position is quite clear. We are against any form of terrorist activities. On this matter, China will always speak in the same language in the international community to take concrete measures."

On the recently-concluded talks on Afghanistan in Russia, Luo said Afghanistan is China`s neighbour and is crucial for peace and stability in Central Asia.

"The countries concerned about Afghanistan are making joint efforts to bring peace and stability back to that country and the region," he added.

(With IANS inputs)