China snub over Azhar to figure in Beijing talks

India is likely to raise the issue of China blocking its move to get Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad’s chief Masood Azhar designated an international terrorist in the United Nations at the next round of the Special Representatives’ talks due in Beijing April 20.

National security adviser Ajit Doval is expected to raise this issue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in the course of talks, official sources here said. The two-day talks, the 19th round of such parleys, will focus mainly on boundary and strategic issues, the sources added.

Mr Doval, who is India’s Special Representative for the Sino-India boundary talks, will hold talks with Mr Jiechi, and is also expected to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The two sides are expected to review the border situation and ways to maintain peace and tranquility, the sources said. “We want to move forward,” a senior official added.