On the first day of India - China strategic dialogue, both countries expectedly made no visible progress on the contiguous issues of Masood Azhar and NSG, with New Delhi suggesting that its neighbouring country is playing the role of an irritant on both the issues.      

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India's Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, who is leading the Indian delegation, refuted China's allegation of not giving enough evidences on Masood Azhar, adding that the 'burden of proof' was rather on China itself.        

"The extent of JeM chief Masood Azhar's actions are 'well documented' and the 'burden of proof' is not in India", Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told reporters in Beijing. Jaishankar categorically sought to remind China that Azhar's application in UN is being supported by U.S, U.K and France, clearly implicating that New Delhi enjoys an overwhelming international support on the issue and Beijing's stance is an 'isolated one.'

"We pointed out that this time around, it's not India but other countries (which backed the proposal). So, there is a body of world opinion out there (against Azhar)," he said.

China repeatedly blocking India's Azhar proposal at UN last year left New Delhi completely frustrated. The frustration of the Indian government is understandable, considering that its diplomatic efforts to engage with Beijing on the issue had gone into vain.  

Chinese government justifies its blockade on the Azhar's application by saying there is a 'lack of consensus' on the issue, on which Jaishankar quipped "there isn't a consensus because China hasn't joined it."

On the NSG issue, another issue that put considerable strain on the bilateral relationship last year, India's top diplomat claimed that China is open to India's joining but said there were procedures and processes to be completed".  The diplomat, however, did not shed light on these procedures and processes.

China's standard position on the NSG issue has been that non-NPT member like India is not qualified to join the elite nuclear club and signing NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) is a prerequisite.

China, on other hand, raked up the Dalai Lama's recent meeting Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, since this was the first time that a serving Indian president met with the controversial spiritual leader.

In response, Jaishankar assured his Chinese counterpart that Dalai Lama's recent meeting with Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was for non-political purpose and so Beijing should that reach too much into it.

The first ever India - China strategic dialogue that started on Wednesday is an upgraded diplomatic mechanism forged by both countries for promoting greater engagement. Both Asian countries relations have been fraught with decades of suspicion and miss-trust.

TagsIndia - China Strategic Dialogue, china, China and India, Masood Azhar & NSG, Masood Azhar., S. Jaishankar