NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly conveyed India’s concerns to Chinese President Xi Jingping about China blocking Indian move to get the United Nations to act against Pakistan for release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
“PM made our concerns (on Lakhvi) known very clearly on this. I am sure the Chinese side was impressed by the clarity and directness with which he communicated our concerns,” said Foreign Secretary Jaishankar after the 87-minute-long meeting between Modi and Xi. They met in the Russian city of Ufa ahead of the BRICS and SCO summits.
Jaishankar said Modi conveyed to Xi how the Chinese move in the UN was viewed in India. “We expect those discussions (about Lakvhi) to continue between the two governments,” he said.
On China reportedly raising objection that there was insufficient evidence for Lakhvi’s involvement, he said: “The whole world knows what the role of Lakhvi was… I don’t think this is a matter of proof.”
Asked what would be the format of the discussions on this issue, he said the officials would take up from where the leaders had left.
“There is no particular mechanism. The MEA can discuss with the Embassy. There is a range of mechanisms,” he added.