India Exposes China’s Double Standards on Pakistan Terrorism, Beijing Denies Ambiguity
India Criticizes China’s Stance on Pakistan Terrorism; Beijing Denies Double Standards Amid Diplomatic Talks
New Delhi/Beijing, June 14, 2025: A fresh round of diplomatic friction has emerged between India and China after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar publicly accused Beijing of maintaining “double standards” on terrorism linked to its close ally Pakistan. The comment, made in an interview with Le Figaro, follows a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and has prompted a strong rebuttal from China’s Foreign Ministry.
While addressing a media briefing in Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected the allegations, asserting that “China’s position on fighting terrorism is consistent and clear.”
“Terrorism is humanity’s common enemy, and combating terrorism is the shared responsibility of the international community,” Lin said. “There is no so-called ambiguity or double standards.”
Jaishankar Calls Out China’s Close Ties with Pakistan
In his interview with the French publication, S. Jaishankar did not mince words, stating that China’s long-standing ties with Pakistan should not allow it to overlook terrorism originating from across India’s western border.
“They have had close ties for decades,” Jaishankar said. “But on an issue like terrorism, you cannot afford ambiguity or double standards. In the end, it’s a problem that concerns all of us.”
Jaishankar’s remarks come in the backdrop of India’s precision strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last month, targeting terror infrastructure allegedly linked to the Pahalgam incident, which killed several Indian security personnel and civilians.
Beijing Counters Allegations, Stresses Regional Peace
Responding to the growing criticism, China reiterated its commitment to regional peace and anti-terrorism efforts. Spokesperson Lin Jian also invoked recent high-level contacts between the two countries to suggest a path forward.
“China is committed to safeguarding international and regional peace and tranquillity, and firmly opposes all forms of terrorism,” Lin said.
“We hope India will work with us to earnestly implement the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in Kazan last October.”
Diplomatic Outreach: China’s Top South Asia Envoy Visits Delhi
Significantly, Lin’s comments coincide with the ongoing India visit of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who was earlier China’s Ambassador to India. His two-day visit, which began Thursday, marks the first high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the Pahalgam attack.
According to sources, Sun’s visit includes talks on counter-terrorism cooperation, bilateral trade, border management, and people-to-people exchanges, reflecting a mutual attempt to ease tensions and revive stalled dialogues.
Talks on Resuming Direct Flights Between India and China
During the same press briefing, Lin Jian confirmed that discussions are underway for the resumption of direct flights between India and China—suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the move as “positive” and in the mutual interest of both nations, particularly for cross-border exchanges and trade cooperation.
“We hope India will work with us to resume flights as soon as possible and ensure safe and orderly mutual visits,” Lin added.
India-China Relations at a Crossroads
While both countries have signaled willingness to cooperate on economic and diplomatic fronts, deep-seated mistrust remains—especially regarding China’s diplomatic shielding of Pakistan on global terrorism platforms such as the UN Security Council and FATF (Financial Action Task Force).
Analysts suggest that unless China reevaluates its position on Pakistani terror groups, India is unlikely to view Beijing as a fully reliable counter-terror partner. India has repeatedly expressed concern over China’s past vetoes on designating Pakistani nationals as global terrorists, a move that has often frustrated Indian diplomatic efforts.