Need for heart-to-heart talk with China over Masood Azhar: Salman Khurshid

Beijing: India should have a "heart-to- heart" dialogue with China to win its support at the UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar, former external affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said.

"You cannot expect China to deliver unless we talk to them. This is not carrying a shopping list," Khurshid said, days after China scuttled India's bid at the UN to ban Azhar.

"If we have to make friends and we cannot be selfish in your demeanour and we have to be accommodative and willing," he told PTI during a business event in China's Changsha city.

"I am sure China will respond and support. You need to have heart-to-heart conversation," he said.

 

India has expressed disappointment over China putting a last minute technical hold over its move to ban Azhar in connection with his alleged involvement in the Pathankot terror attack.

Jaish-e-Muhammad has already been listed as terrorist organisation by UN in 2001, besides US State Department and Pakistan government.

Both Beijing and New Delhi said the issue is being discussed. Chinese officials say they have sought more details from India.

 

The issue is expected to figure in the talks between the two countries as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar followed by National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval were scheduled to visit Beijing in the next few weeks.

Parrikar's visit is due to take place on April 18.

About the Sino-India relations, Khurshid said, "My view is that we should not have unreasonable expectations. China is not easy to handle. They have their concern and priorities."

He said both sides have to find a "win-win path".

"I suspect enough has not happened. China has its concerns and we have ours," he said.

Khurshid took part in China-India Corporate Dialogue held by China's Hu Nan Commerce Bureau in association with Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) of the Ministry of Commerce and co-sponsored by New Delhi-based Global Dialogue Review quarterly magazine.

Over 150 Chinese business houses took part in the dialogue which focussed on a host of issues including dispute resolution in trade and business related matters.