By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
India will pitch for a strong reference to the Pulwama terror attack, cross-border terrorism, need to control terrorist infrastructure and financing in the joint communique of the annual Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral on Wednesday in China, an all-weather Pakistan ally. China has so far taken a nuanced position on the February 14 terror attack.
India, with support from Russia, will attempt for strong references to the Pulwama attack at the annual foreign ministers’ meet, ET has learnt. RIC joint communique, after the UN Security Council (UNSC) and FATF statements, would help increase pressure on Pakistan.
While refusing to back India’s push to get Masood Azhar banned by the UNSC under the 1267 sanctions committee, China supported the UNSC statement last week condemning Jaish-e-Mohammad for the Pulwama attack.
While Russia has been spontaneous in supporting India, the onus is on China as host to make the RIC successful through a firm stand on crossborder terror, indicated sources. Besides, China is also seeking to improve ties with Delhi amid tensions in its relations with the US.
The foreign ministers of the three countries are expected to take stock of the fluidity in geopolitics, including the situation in Afghanistan in the backdrop of US decision to withdraw troops and its efforts to enter into a deal with the Taliban.
India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will hold bilateral meetings with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on the margins of the RIC meeting.
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