Chinese state councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi has sent a condolence message to Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj regarding the suicide attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama.
Wang Yi said he was "shocked to learn that a suicide attack was carried out in Kashmir and heavy casualties were caused". While extending condolences, he said, "Terrorism is the common enemy of mankind. The Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. Countries in the region should enhance co-operation, jointly address the threat of terrorism and maintain regional peace and security".
READ: 40 CRPF personnel killed in Pulwama blast; JeM claims responsibility
China's official reaction has been a bit late, and is carefully worded. It makes no reference to Jaish-e-Mohammad, even though the group has claimed responsibility for the attack. While other countries, except the US, have also refrained from making the reference, the Chinese response will be carefully scrutinised, because the country has steadfastly prevented Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar from being listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council, despite India's efforts.
India has received condolences from 48 nations, including the United Nations. The US has been vocal in naming Pakistan. In a statement by the press secretary of the White House, it termed the attack a "heinous terrorist attack by a Pakistani-based terrorist group" and called on the neighbouring nation to immediately end the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos. The State Department, USA added, "We call on all countries to uphold their responsibilities pursuant to INSC resolutions to deny safe haven and support for terrorists".
French minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean Yves Le Drian, indicating France's condemnation for Pakistan, said, "I call on each state to take effective measures to combat terrorist networks and their funding channels and to prevent cross-border movement of terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, which has claimed responsibility for this attack."
