Made in China friendship: China blocks UN action against Pakistan

China has once again proved its inclination towards Pakistan by blocking United Nation (UN) action against later. China used its veto power to prevent UN from taking action against Pakistan for releasing 26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi from jail on the ground that India has not provided "sufficient information".

The UNSC decided to hold a meeting to discuss the possible action against Pakistan after India's permanent Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji raised concern over Lakhvi's release in a letter to the Chair of the UNSC al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee Ambassador Jim McLay last month.

In his letter he said it violates the provisions of the committee concerning al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities.

The Committee of the Security Council established by paragraph 6 of Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 is known as the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

The release of Lakhvi had also raised concerns in the US, UK, Russia, France and Germany with Washington calling for him to be rearrested.

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 2008 Mumbai attack in November that left 166 people including foreign nationals dead.

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 move which India said "eroded" the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to it by Pakistan on cross-border terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his concern to Chinese leadership over later's decision to block Indian move to get the UN to slap sanctions on Pakistan.

China had earlier blocked Indian attempts to seek United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against another terrorist based in Pakistan, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.

In the joint statement issued by Modi and Li after their meeting in Beijing, the countries agreed to respect each other's "sensitivities," however move like this always made India-China relationship a dubious.

This is not the first time when China, has protected Pakistan, from possible UN action on the issue of terror. Nor is it going to be the last time.

The Chinese move has also proved India-China friendship a Made in China move. Selfie moment, khadi jacket, home town diplomacy, charkha' (spinning wheel) and traditional swing at Sabarmati Riverfront proved futile effort. China will continue to support Pakistan over China.