Author Topic: India should end support for Dalai Lama to get Chinese anti-terrorist support  (Read 26657 times)

thaimonk

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India’s Fight Against Terrorism: China’s Silence Speaks Volumes
The Pulwama attack has once again drawn attention to China’s equivocal stance on Pakistan-based terror outfits.

By Prarthana Basu
February 21, 2019
     
 
 
India has yet again become the victim of cross-border terrorism and insurgency. An attack in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir cost the lives of over 40 Central Reserve Police Force troops. Afterward, countries across the globe expressed deep condolences and resolutely spoke out against terrorism. While India continues to stand its ground firmly in denouncing terrorism, the Pulwama attack lays bare the difficulty of the fight against Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism and the ineffectiveness of the measures India has been taking at the international level, in various multilateral organizations such as in the United Nations, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. When terrorist and insurgent groups strike, India retaliates with counter measures and pre-emptive strikes but it continues to suffer the costs of terrorism domestically.

Now the question largely remains as to how India will try to advance its cause on the international stage, especially the UNSC and give a befitting ultimatum to Pakistan, which indeed has proven largely responsible as it continues to act as a “safe haven” for the various terrorist organizations. The key issue, as it has been for decades, is China’s ability to block any action targeting Pakistan, its “iron brother,” for supporting terrorism.

The Adversary: JeM and Masood Azhar

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Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, has been operating since the early 2000s and actively participating in violence and causing instability in the Jammu and Kashmir region. JeM’s primary motive remains the separation of Kashmir from India and merging it with Pakistan. JeM has been associated with many terrorist attacks on Indian soil, from the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 in Khandahar to the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament.

These events gained prominence after the 9/11 attacks and the global war on terrorism was initiated. India’s inherent struggle with terrorism was highlighted and this led many other countries — such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, South Korea, and even the United Nations — to declare a ban on JeM as a terrorist organization. By then, Pakistan was also forced to act responsibly and was pressured to impose a ban on the various terrorist organizations thriving on its soil. However, Pakistan’s authorities conveniently let go of the arrested militants and Masood Azhar, the leader of JeM, was released under a court order. He has remained free ever since.

Azhar allegedly kept a low profile from his base in Bahawalpur, Pakistan for years after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but resurfaced in 2014, voraciously speaking against India and the United States and boasting of having hundreds of suicide killers, ready to create havoc, at his beck and call. JeM has ever since been actively recruiting and gathering forces via madrassas or Islamic schools (an issue that has not escaped notice in Pakistan). JeM maintains the United States and India as its two biggest enemies and also seeks to drive the American forces out of Afghanistan.

The International Response

On February 15 in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale called for a meeting of around 25 heads of mission of various countries such as South Africa, Japan, Germany, the United States, China, the U.K., and others. In this meeting, Gokhale spoke about how Pakistan has been actively perpetuating terrorism and using it as an instrument of state policy. He said, “Pakistan must take immediate and verifiable action” against JeM and immediately stop other associates of the groups in creating any further nuisance. India vowed to isolate Pakistan diplomatically from here on unless action is taken. It also withdrew Pakistan’s “Most Favored Nation” status.

Many countries have expressed their sorrow, unambiguously condemned this terrorist attack, and supported India’s stance at this hour of grief. Countries such as the United States and Russia have strongly condemned the act and have made thorough remarks on the subject. The White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the statement saying, “The United States condemns in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attack by a Pakistan-based terrorist group that killed over 40 Indian paramilitary forces and wounded at least 44 others.” The press release also remarked, “The United States calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence and terror in the region.” This would implies the future will see more intensive cooperation and strengthening of ties between the United States and India on counterterrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke against the terrorist attack. He also called for “punishments” of the perpetrators, who were responsible for such a “heinous act.” The message also implied unwavering support in the efforts of counterterrorism operations and partnership in fighting against terrorism.

China Stays Silent Yet Again

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a statement on the attacks in India, expressing his condolences for the country and stressing that terrorism remains the common enemy of mankind. The “Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism,” Wang insisted. Strangely, though, his remarks fail to mention either the terrorist organization responsible  (JeM) or the leader of that group (Masood Azhar) – much less the state backing them both (Pakistan). Most states made it a point to deliberately reference the perpetrator of the attack.

This, however, comes as no surprise. Every time India has appealed at the United Nations Security Council to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist,” China has single-handled vetoed the action. Beijing continues to remain silent on the reasoning behind its decision. India has been pushing for that listing since the infamous 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, but every time its discussed in the UNSC, China has placed a “technical hold” on the matter.

Now with another terrorist attack infuriating India’s populace, the mystery behind this Chinese silence remains unsolved. While most attribute China’s apparent silence as a favor to Pakistan, as both continue to maintain their “all-weather friendship,” others argue that China holds India responsible for granting political asylum to the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, whom Beijing equates to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed.

China’s stand on the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UNSC was brought up at a recent press conference. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang on Friday responded that “As for the issue of listing, I could tell you that the 1267 Committee of Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of terrorist organizations.” He also maintained that China would abide by proper rules and regulations to “handle the relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner.”

China’s stonewalling of an international rebuke to Azhar – and by extension Pakistan — has been one of the greatest hindrances in the relationship between India and China, alongside everlasting issues pertaining to border disputes, the Dalai Lama, and the trade disparity. Both countries take part in many international and multilateral initiatives such as BRICS and SCO, the latter of which denounces terrorism strongly and thus provides a platform for India to denounce Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism (as Pakistan too became a member of SCO). But the blacklisting of Masood Azhar, and China’s inadequate response, has become an irritant for India. As the Pulwama attack continues making news and the country may be gearing up to fight back, the India-China tug-of-war on the matter remains at a stalemate.

Prarthana Basu is a Research Assistant at the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi.

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/indias-fight-against-terrorism-chinas-silence-speaks-volumes/


PHOTOS:

1. Image Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod- iNDIAN TROOPS
2. WHAT DALAI LAMA SHOULD SAY TO MODI
3. Snag of news article



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Contemplate this:

Indian journalists sound desperate when they talk about terrorist attacks on India. As this article correctly states, there is little that India can do to address terrorism as they seem to operate from Pakistan. To deal with the terrorists, Indians will have to literally attack Pakistan which it cannot do.

Well, there is something India can do which is to stop Dharamsala's terrorist activities against China being executed from Indian soil. The Tibetans have been attacking China for decades, yet they say they wish to return to Tibet. How do you return to a place you constantly criticize? The Dalai Lama is literally begging China to allow him to visit the Five Peaks of Manjushri pilgrimage site in China and also his birthplace in Amdo, Tibet. But if the Dalai Lama keeps criticizing China, why would they sit at the bargaining table with him? India allows for all of this to happen on Indian soil, so that would irritate China.

Yet India wants concessions from China on the terrorist issue. Meanwhile, Beijing equates Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed to India supporting the Dalai Lama against China for five decades now. Furthermore, India wants China to speak up against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar. But India does not speak up against Dalai Lama. Whether the world thinks the Dalai Lama is the good guy or not, he is a thorn in China's side so anyone that supports him is not supporting China. Similar to the situation, LeT's Hafiz Saeed and JeM's Masood Azhar are a thorn in India's side but they do not bother China and her allies, so why should China do anything about them? If India does something on the Dalai Lama, then it would be fair to ask China to do something about their support of Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed's Masood Azhar. Simple equation.

These reports are really bare-faced hypocrisy. It implies one nation is helpless against terrorists because the terrorists camp out in another country. But that did not stop the US from heavily bombing Iraq on the basis that it was harboring terrorists. The US did not hesitate to overthrow the government and murder its leader Saddam Hussein.

It is also very hypocritical that the same journalists who are outraged at China's annexation of Tibet are quiet about Israel's annexation of Palestine.

It is interesting to note that most terrorist attacks are aimed at the US and her allies. Everyone conveniently forgets that the US has been throwing their weight around for decades and can even determine which leader they want in other countries.

Back to India - if China can convince North Korea to have détente with the US, China can similarly help India with the JeM. India simply has to give up the Tibet card. The article is also a one-sided opinion piece because India faces as many terrorist threats from Bangladesh, with just as many terrorist camps, but because Bangladesh is not China, their involvement is not mentioned.

India is a great country. China and India as friends will be able to influence the globe literally economically and, eventually, militarily. But India has to play fair. By supporting the Dalai Lama, India will get nothing and furthermore, it will be a stumbling block to China's 1.4 billion people becoming friends with India's 1.3 billion people.

The Dalai Lama has to be compassionate and stop speaking against China because he has to consider the difficulty he places India in as his host. Each time he criticizes and allows his refugees to protest against China and ask for western support, it makes China look bad. So if the Dalai Lama wants China and India to become closer and benefit each other economically then he has to be silent on this already.

daka

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The Dalai Lama and the CTA government never ceased creating problems for India who helped them so much for the past 60 years. The whole world knows India has been working very hard to rebuild its relationship with China. And if the two biggest Asian countries can work together hand in hand, it contributes a lot to the social harmony and the overall development of the region as well as world peace.



As a Noble peace prize winner, the Dalai Lama should know that well, but why he's still doing or saying something that will directly jeopardize the good relationship between India and China? I can find no other reason for that except that he doesn't really want to go back Tibet to be under control by the Chinese government. What he is trying to achieve is to make China look bad further so that the world can put pressure on China with the hope that China will back down. And if the China doesn't back down, they think they will continue to play poor refugees card to gain international financial support. In order to get what he wants, he is willing to sacrifice India-China relationship. He is biting the hand that feeds him. It shows how ungrateful the Dalai Lama and his government are.

Since they are so ungrateful, should India continue to support them? I don't think so and what India has been doing since last year has proven that they no longer wanting to tolerate the Tibetans anymore. It's a warning sign. If the CTA is clever, they should stop doing things that can further provoke India and China. They must not forget that they are just refugees even though Indian government has been giving them all sort of priviledges. All these can be taken away if India is not happy.

christine V

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I fully agreed on thaimonk opinion. How could India allowed Dalai Lama to speak against China and asked China to speak against Pakistan when India don't even stopped Dalai Lama to do so. In the eyes of China, Dalai Lama is also "terrorist" who create chaos over Tibet and China harmony relationship.
If India can be so furious to bomb Pakistan over this issues, then should China do so to India? If so there would be world war 3!  Instead, China do not do anything on India. China just keep silent.

It is very true that Dalai Lama have to stop bringing Dorje Shugden issues up to humiliate China.Where the CTA always equal Dorje Shugden issues as China's spy.  Dalai Lama should know that China is promoting peace in Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet. By India allowing Dalai Lama to continue His show to humiliate China, India is just using Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees to hurt China. After all, who lost at the end. Is the Tibetan Refugees. Hope the CTA and Dalai Lama see the seriousness in continue using Dorje Shugden to hurt China. Like what He did in mongolia recently.

SabS

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To me, it is very simple. India has supported the Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees for 60 years on their soil. They had allowed the refugees to stay in many areas of India for free and also given sponsorships in support. What more, India had allowed the Tibetan refugees free rule of the land that they stay on. Such generosity for 60 years. What have they received in return? Much grief to deal with, diplomatically and secularly. Even their citizens are jaded about the Tibetan refugees who only take but never give back. Now India has much to gain from a friendship with China, financially and now urgently, safety for their countrymen from the threats of terrorists. It is time for India to take care of their own people and put aside irrelevant issues aside. After all, even guests, no matter what stature are still guests and should leave one day.

thaimonk

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China will back India on Masood Azhar if it is a deal, says ex-envoy

Ambassador Gautam Bambawale, who till recently served as India's ambassador to China, said Beijing's objections to the listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar under UN sanctions must have a transactional approach. Delivering annual lecture to the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents here, he said China will permit the listing to move ahead if there something India can do for them or offer them in return. "If there is a bargain can indeed be struck. I am confident that our diplomats are already working on such a scenario," he said. Bambawale, known as an experienced China hand suggested that amongst many global issues, India and China do see eye to eye and both do work together. He referred to work done by the BASIC countries of India, China, Brazil and South Africa in the context of climate change negotiations.

On boundary issue, Ambassador admitted it was a difficult issue due to the nature of borders which lie in the mighty Himalayas, thousands of meters above sea level. "Elaborate and fairly successful Standard Operating Procedures have been put into place to ensure that our Armed Forces do not get into situations which will raise temperatures in the relatively cool climes of the India – China boundary," he said. Since 2013, India and China have come face-to-face at Depsang in 2013, at Chumar in 2014 and most recently at Doklam in 2017.

He said despite all the criticism, the India has a better border as compared to 20 or 25 years ago, which has brought the two armed forces closer on this border than ever before in history. "In each case, the Chinese PLA attempted to change the status quo on our frontier and in each case the Indian Army blocked such an attempt. Once the status quo was resumed, the situation went back to normal, although it may be a new normal," said Bambawale, who was key negotiator during all these situations.

The Ambassador maintained that his experience shows that China changed due to the fast paced economic growth which has changed its attitudes and behavior patterns. He said this has come with greater openness amongst the Chinese people towards new ideas, new commodities, new technologies and new products.

Source-https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-china-will-back-india-on-masood-azhar-if-it-is-a-deal-says-ex-envoy-2725837


Photo: Masood Azhar  Masood Azhar

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Another article which states something very obvious and very simple, if India stops supporting Dalai Lama who has campaigned against China for 60 years, then China will help India with putting Masood Azhar Masood Azhar under UN sanctions. China will back India in this. It must be a fair trade.