Talks on JeM Chief Masood Azhar Under Progress: Chinese Envoy

India on Wednesday again asked China to declare Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar an international terrorist.

File photo of JeM chief Masood Azhar.(Photo: Reuters)

China supports India on combating terrorism and a discussion to declare Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a "global terrorist" is in progress, Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said on Friday.

"The discussion is going on. I am so happy to see your Foreign Secretary in Beijing two days ago... discussing everything... so, just wait," Luo said while talking to media persons on the sidelines of a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre inauguration ceremony in New Delhi. He added:

China supports India and other countries on terrorism... The discussions are going on. It takes time.

India on Wednesday again asked China to declare Jaish-e-Mohammad chief and Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar an international terrorist.

China blocked a proposal by the US to add Azhar to the list of such terrorists, in addition to the three previous rejections in 2016 to the Indian proposal.

India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was in Beijing on Wednesday to co-chair the China-India strategic dialogue with the neighbouring country's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, and he raised the issue of Masood Azhar during discussions.

Speaking further on bilateral issues, Luo said:

Don’t focus on this issue only. This is an important issue, but bilateral cooperation is more important.

He advised the media to focus more on the positive cooperation between India and China.

File photo of Pakistani cleric and Jaish-e-Mohammad Maulana, Masood Azhar (left). (Photo: Reuters)

On the other controversial issue about Chinese opposition to India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG), he said: "It is the same."

On the rise of ISIS in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, the Ambassador said:

The Chinese position is quite clear. We are against any form of terrorist activities. On this matter, China will always speak in the same language in the international community to take concrete measures.

On the recently concluded talks on Afghanistan in Russia, Luo said Afghanistan is China's neighbour and is crucial for peace and stability in Central Asia.

"The countries concerned about Afghanistan are making joint efforts to bring peace and stability back to that country and the region," he added.