PM speaks to Xi

In a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping held in Hangzhou ahead of G-20 Summit, Prime Minister Modi has made some plain speaking about India’s concerns which China should make note of. He frankly touched on three important concerns that are (a) security threat to India from 46-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) running through part of PoK which is Indian Territory but illegally grabbed by Pakistan. The real threat emanates from China’s plan of using the corridor for a host of energy-related projects as the CPEC consists of rail, road and pipelines to ferry oil and gas from Gwadar port to Kashghar in Xinjiang through PoK plus the reports of China’s plans for installation of nuclear missile bases along the corridor: (b) obstructing India’s admission to NSG, and (c) China politicizing terrorism. It is to be reminded that China opposed in UN SC India’s proposal of designating Hafiz Saeed, the chief of al Dawa and LeT terrorist organization based in Pakistan. This stance was adopted by China despite having been fully informed about the role of Saeed and his organization in Mumbai carnage and attacks at some more places in India by his jihadis.
PM brought home to the Chinese President that China was catering to political interests of keeping Pakistan on her side while she was adopting a negative approach to containment of global terrorism, a phenomenon of which China and Pakistan both are also the victims as they claim. Notwithstanding the fact that China and India are two big Asian powers and neighbours with a long common border, both are ancient nations with patent civilizational manifestations. Modi is right in saying that both of them have the responsibility of maintaining peace and tranquility in the region, in Asian Continent and the world at large.  It is common sense that the two countries care for each other’s interests not with negative but with positive perception. China has been obstructing India’s claim for permanent membership of the Security Council despite the fact that at one time when India was offered the membership, she withdrew in favour of China. China and India both need stable energy supply system, both need markets for their products, both would want to invest in third countries for infrastructural development and both have security concerns on land and sea. An apt example of good consequences of mutual understanding is to be found on both sides successfully ensuring peace and tranquility along the long Sino-Indian border in Ladakh and in the eastern part as well.
The essential question is whether the entreaties of Prime Minister will have real impact on the Chinese President or not. We are very skeptical about that part of the story. Beijing has never given even the slightest impression that China would reverse its age-old obsession of laying claims to the territories of her neighbours. Hunger for land has been the trait of Chinese policy. As such, the feeble approaches by Modi, no doubt very sound tactically and true to upright international diplomacy.
Obviously, the two countries with strong and growing economy and consequent growing influence in the region and on international plane have their respective security concerns. The right thing for them to do is to make a rational and realistic approach to their security concerns instead of heading towards rivalry in up man-ship. Gilgit and Baltistan, the parts of the original State of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan, have been opened by Pakistan for deep inroads of Chinese technical manpower, strategist and intelligence sleuths on a large scale. It is a challenge to India’s security concerns. Transportation of military hardware and nuclear arsenal is serious challenge to our security. Taken in the context of China and Pakistan — both nuclear powers —- converging on unbridled antagonism against India, again a nuclear power in the region — it is something that does not bring us comfort. Prime Minister Modi has pointed it out to his counterpart Xi in no ambiguous words.
In another event, PM Modi made a strong address to the representatives of BRICS, — which will formally meet next month — and called on its members to intensify joint efforts to combat terrorism.  In an apparent reference to Pakistan, he demanded coordinated actions by the grouping to isolate supporters and sponsors of terror. Terrorists in South Asia, or anywhere for that matter, do not own banks or weapons factories. Obviously they are provided funds, arms and ammunition from agencies and thee have to be identified and isolated. Who does not know that Pakistan is the cradle of terrorism grown in the shape of jihadis and Wahhabis? There is hardly a terrorist event anywhere in the world in which the hand of Pakistani agents is not moving behind the cover. BRICS is an influential voice and it has to be raised in favour of united effort on international level of meeting the challenge of terrorism.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here