Though Islamabad has repeatedly assured Beijing on the security of CPEC, it is only a matter of time before the chickens come home to roost.
Terrorism is one of the biggest threats facing mankind and the international community is steadfast in countering it. India as one of the victims has garnered sympathy from all quarters; evident from the reactions of the United Nations following the Pulwama attack. The UN Security Council has not only passed a unanimous resolution condemning the terror attack, but it has also used specific language proposed by India. In other words, it has voiced India’s demands on the global stage, which includes naming the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the arrests of all the terrorists who were behind the deadly assault on CRPF personnel. This signals a shift in China’s stand, which had refused to lift its “technical hold” on a proposal to declare Masood Azhar, a global terrorist under UN Security Council Resolution 1267, which prescribes a sanctions regime against designated terrorists and terrorist groups.
Read: Donald Trump empathises with India after Pulwama terror attack
By repeatedly trying to protect Pakistan, it is protecting its commercial interests in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Regardless of China’s concerns, the international community believes that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”. Beijing shouldn’t fool itself into believing that Pak-sponsored militant outfits wouldn’t harm its interests. There can’t be any insurance against terror attacks. The US had already got a taste of it and Washington is now New Delhi’s close ally in the war against terrorism. China’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority in eastern Xinjiang has already raised the hackles of some orthodox groups in Pakistan.
Read: Subramanian Swamy's blueprint to break terror's backbone in J&K
Though Islamabad has repeatedly assured Beijing on the security of CPEC, it is only a matter of time before the chickens come home to roost. At this point, being an all-weather friend to Pakistan may serve some of China’s short-term goals but, antagonising India and the global community will definitely have long-term adverse circumstances. One is inclined to believe that Beijing is gradually seeing the futility of backing Pakistan in such matters, though it’s too early to predict anything. As the UNSC statement said, “all states must, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, cooperate actively with the Government of India and all other relevant authorities in this regard”, it becomes incumbent upon China to do its bit.
Read: BCCI to write to ICC, urge cricket community to sever ties with terror nations
Recall that more than once Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed during bilateral and multilateral summits the need to fight terrorism in a coordinated manner. It’s now Beijing’s turn to walk the talk and this is as good a time as any to rise to the occasion. The Chinese President is likely to come to India for an informal summit with PM Modi before the general elections, though nothing has been finalised as yet. President Xi can give a significant boost to bilateral ties with India by forcing Pakistan to mend its ways. If the Pulwama attack is any indication, Pakistani terror outfits, especially JeM, will be further emboldened to bleed India with a thousand cuts.
The article was originally published on DNA newspaper on February 23, 2019.
1. Language proposed by India
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The UN Security Council resolution on Pulwama attack contained specific language proposed by India through its partner countries including the naming of JeM, and calling for bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice, offcial sources said Friday.
Read: How withdrawing MFN status has hit Pakistan
The UNSC comprising 15 permanent and non-permanent members including China, on Thursday condemned in the "strongest terms" the "heinous and cowardly" terror attack perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in a show of solidarity and support to India.
India has mounted a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan in the international community for its support to terror groups and cross border terrorism.
Read: Subramanian Swamy's blueprint to break terror's backbone in J&K
Reacting, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “While due to the Diplomatic capital build by PM Modi UNSC names Pakistan Terror group Jaish in #PulwamaAttack ..we have the Congress providing cover fire by articulating phases like “Homegrown So called terrorist”!!
Read: Donald Trump empathises with India after Pulwama terror attack
2. Need to hold perpetrators
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The powerful UN organ, which includes five permanent members China, France, Russia, UK and the US "underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice", it said.
The top UN body urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions to cooperate actively with the government of India and all other relevant authorities.
The press statement is highly significant as China, a permanent member of the Council, has in the past repeatedly blocked India's bids in the Security Council Sanctions Committee to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
"A statement with many firsts takes more time than expected. In complex diplomatic situations, however, it is better to be late than never," India's permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on the UNSC statement.
3. Did China raise objections?
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On whether China raised any objections to the statement, sources told PTI here that drafting the statement was a "prolonged process" and was issued after "prolonged discussions".
The members of the Security Council also expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Indian people and the government of India, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," it said.
The Council also reiterated that "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed".
4. All states must combat terrorism
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The UNSC reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts,"it said.
The condemnation by the UN organ comes a day after Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi met top UN leaders including with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council President Anatolio Ndong Mba of Equatorial Guinea, briefing them about the escalating tensions in the region in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
In a major boost to India's efforts to get Azhar on the list of global terrorists, France is expected to soon move a proposal in the Sanctions Committee to ban the head of the UN-proscribed group.
The proposal, when moved, will be fourth such bid at the UN in past 10 years.
5. UN Secretary General joins chorus
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In 2009, India moved by itself a proposal to designate Azhar. This was followed in 2016 when India moved the proposal with the P3 - the US, the UK and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016.
In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, China always blocked the proposal from being adopted by the UN.
Guterres too had strongly condemned the terror attack and called for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.
On Wednesday, he again reiterated his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack, stressing that it is essential that there be accountability under international law and perpetrators of terrorist acts be brought swiftly to justice.
"The Secretary-General has been following with great concern the situation in South Asia. He reiterates his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama," a statement issued by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had said.
At the same time, the Secretary-General "urgently" appealed to the Governments of both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not further deteriorate.
"It is the belief of the Secretary-General that all difficult challenges can be resolved peacefully and satisfactorily through meaningful mutual engagement," it said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet had also strongly condemned the attack and called on authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
"The High Commissioner strongly condemns the suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February and calls on authorities to bring those responsible to justice," Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Rupert Colville had said in Geneva Tuesday.
6. US reaction
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US President Donald Trump said India is looking at "something very strong" after last week's Pulwama terror attack, the responsibility for which was claimed by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
"Right now between Pakistan and India, there is a very, very bad situation and it's a very dangerous situation. We would like to see it stop. A lot of people were just killed. We want to see it just stop. We are very much involved in that. India is looking at something very strong. India just lost almost 50 people in the attack. I can understand that also," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.
He also outlined that there are currently a "lot of problems between India and Pakistan" due to the terrorist attack, saying, "We're talking. A lot of people are talking. It’s going to be a very, very delicate balance. Right now there is a lot of problem between India and Pakistan because of what just happened in Kashmir."
India looking at something strong, I can understand: @realDonaldTrump empathises with New Delhi after Pulwama attackhttps://t.co/buFx5bmurY pic.twitter.com/BOxuoOlSD2
— DNA (@dna) February 23, 2019
The incumbent US President also brought attention to the cessation of payments - which amounted to USD 1.3 billion - to Pakistan.
"I stopped paying Pakistan the USD 1.3 billion that we were paying them. In the meantime, we may set up some meetings with Pakistan. Pakistan was taking very strong advantage of the United States under other Presidents.
We were paying Pakistan USD 1.3 billion a year. I ended that payment because they were not helping us in a way they should have and honestly we've developed a much better relationship with Pakistan over the last short period of time than we have. I ended the payment about 9 months ago," Trump highlighted.
The US President's comments come at a time when there is mounting international pressure on Pakistan to stop harbouring terrorism on its soil.
The United States had, immediately after the February 14 terrorist attack, told Pakistan to stop providing a safe haven and support to terrorists.
