China terms Pahalgam attack 'shocking', gets called out for 'hypocrisy' over UN veto on Masood Azhar
New Delhi: In the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed at least 26 lives, China's Ambassador to India expressed shock and extended condolences to the victims and their families. However, the gesture has stirred controversy online, as users quickly pointed to Beijing's past defence of Masood Azhar — the chief of Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), at the United Nations.
“Shocked by the attack in Pahalgam and condemn. Deep condolences for the victims and sincere sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families. Oppose terrorism of all forms,” the Chinese envoy posted on X.
While the statement was widely shared, it didn’t take long for Indian social media users to highlight what many called China’s “double standards” on terrorism. They resurfaced past remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who had repeatedly defended Beijing’s decision to block India’s bid to designate Masood Azhar, a global terrorist at the UN.
Azhar, the founder of JeM, a group already listed as a banned terrorist organisation by the UN, has been accused of masterminding several major attacks on Indian soil, including the 2016 Uri military base attack that killed 17 soldiers.
Despite strong backing from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, China, a veto-holding permanent member of the UN Security Council, had blocked India’s attempts, arguing that the matter lacked “consensus” among the directly affected parties, namely, India and Pakistan.
“If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it,” Wang Yi had said in a statement at the UN General Assembly in New York. He emphasised that since India and Pakistan did not share the same conclusions, China would not support the listing unless there was agreement between them.
These remarks, now being widely circulated online, have reignited criticism of China’s stance on global terrorism, especially in South Asia.