'Relevant parties' should communicate over Lakhvi issue: China

Beijing: Breaking its silence after blocking India's move at the UN for action against Pakistan over Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's release, Beijing On Thursday said India, China and "other relevant parties" should communicate on terror-related issues taken up by the Sanctions Committee. In a guarded reply over the issue to PTI here, Chinese Foreign Ministry said China is actively taking part in international cooperation against terrorism under the aegis of the UN.

"China opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the United Nations to play a central coordinating role in International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, and actively participate in international cooperation against terrorism," the Ministry said in an e-mail response to reports that China blocked India's move at UN demanding action against Pakistan for releasing Lakhvi, operations commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"China and India, including all other relevant parties should maintain communication on the related issues" in the UN Security Council's Committee formed in pursuant of resolution 1267 relating to terrorism, it said. It's not clear if "other relevant parties" in the Chinese response meant included Pakistan.

Early this month, Chinese Foreign Ministry had declined to comment on allegations that Beijing had put a technical hold on India's demand to UNSC to take action against Hizbul Mujahudeen's chief Syed Salahuddin and Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafeez Sayed, citing the UNSC resolution 1267.

The ministry was responding to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's comments in New Delhi earlier that it has been conveyed to China that terrorism also concerns Beijing and it should keep that in mind while voting at the UNSC.

Swaraj on Thursday raised the Lakhvi issue with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during her visit to Nepal, saying it was at "variance" with progress in bilateral ties. She told the Wang that Lakhvi was "no ordinary terrorist" as he masterminded the Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed. A Pakistani court had on April 9 set Lakhvi free, a development, which India said "eroded" the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to it by Pakistan on cross-border terrorism.