A member of India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Subramanian Swamy said on Monday that China may rethink on the Masood Azhar issue if India resubmits its plea. Swamy, who is currently on a visit to China, urged India to focus on offering hard evidence rather than censuring Pakistan.

"My impression is that India can expect cooperation from China on the issue of declaring Masood Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Muhammad, as a terrorist who should face trial in India, if India in the United Nations concentrated more on him than seeking to censure Pakistan as a sponsor of terror," Swamy said.

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Swamy has met with several important Chinese leaders including Vice Finance Minister Shi Yaobin during his ongoing visit. The Indian official said that based on what he has learned from these personal meetings, he would be surprised if China continues to obstruct the move to blacklist Azhar in the UN once hard evidence is provided. Swamy also suggested a pre-UN trilateral consultation between India, China, and Pakistan on the issue.

The Masood Azhar issue also figured in discussions during Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to China last month. President Mukherjee is said to have categorically told Chinese leaders that there are no 'good terrorists' or 'bad terrorists.'

The Masood Azhar issue has been a bone of contention between India and China over past couple of months. India has accused China of shielding Pakistan after Beijing vetoed New Delhi's plea in the UN to blacklist Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar. Since then New Delhi has been taking up the issue with Beijing at various summits and diplomatic meetings.

China's effort to block India's bid to secure membership in the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) has further dampened the relationship between the two countries.

TagsMasood Azhar., china, China and India, Subramanian Swamy