Cannot have differences on terror: PM Modi to Xi Jinping, raises Masood Azhar issue

BENAULIM, GOA: PM Narendra Modi, who on Saturday met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the third time in four months, made it clear in no uncertain terms that the two countries cannot have differences on the issue of terror and sought support of the visiting leader to coordinate positions at 1,267 Committee at UN to ban JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.

The issue of terror, besides India’s proposed membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), figured prominently at the Xi-Modi meeting held ahead of the BRICS summit here on Saturday night. Xi agreed to have a second official-level meeting to discuss India’s NSG membership. Both leaders agreed on the scourge of terror in the region and that the menace of terror is a key issue.

Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi will visit India soon and the issue of terror is expected to be discussed with the NSA. This was the first meeting between the two leaders since the Uri terror attacks and India’s cross-LoC surgical strikes.

The November NSG meeting in Vienna pushed by Australia and Mexico — supporters of Delhi’s membership in the exclusive club — will yet again discuss India’s entry.