Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi issue: PM Modi conveys India's concerns to China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up with Chinese leadership India's concerns over China blocking its move in the UN for action against Pakistan over release of 26/11 mastermind and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in violation of a resolution of the world body.

The External Affairs Ministry said India has raised the issue bilaterally with members of the UN Sanctions Committee and in case of China it was taken up at the "highest level". At a meeting of the UN Sanctions Committee, India had sought action against Pakistan for release of Lakhvi in the 26/11 trial in violation of a UN resolution but the Chinese representatives blocked the move on grounds that New Delhi did not provide sufficient information.

Sources said Modi has taken up the issue with Chinese leadership, adding except China, all other members in the Sanctions Committee supported India's stand. "Government had taken up the issue of violation of the 1267 sanctions regime in respect of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

Our concerns in this matter were conveyed to the Chair of the 1267 Committee. "We also raised this bilaterally with the other members of the Committee. In the case of China, this matter has been taken up at the highest level," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said. Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 26/11 terror attack in which 166 people were killed, was released from a Pakistani jail in April. The UN Sanctions Committee met at India's request last week.

Swarup said the 1267 Committee has been created under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter and decisions are binding on all member countries of the UN. In a letter to the current Chair of the UN Sanctions Committee Jim McLay, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukherjee last month had said Lakhvi's release by a Pakistani court was in violation of the 1267 UN resolution dealing with designated entities and individuals.

The sanctions measures apply to designated individuals and entities associated with terror groups including al-Qaeda and LeT, wherever located. The sanctions' committee has five permanent and 10 non-permanent UN member states in it. Swarup said the issue of China blocking India's move was raised with chair of the Sanctions Commitee which is headed by New Zealend.

The release of Lakhvi had also raised concerns in the US, UK, Russia, France and Germany with Washington seeking his re-arrest. Lakhvi and six others – Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum – have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attack in November, 2008.

Lakhvi, 55, a close relative of LeT founder and Jamaat-Ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the 26/11 attack case. The trial has been underway since 2009. A Pakistani court had on April 9 set free Lakhvi, a development which India said "eroded" the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to it by Pakistan on cross-border terrorism.