New Delhi: Claiming success in globally isolating Pakistan in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said only China backs Pakistan, while the rest of the world stands with India.
This, Modi said, was a drastic reversal from India’s strategic relations in the past when Russia was the only country that took India’s side on international issues.
“There was a time when India had only Russia’s support on the international stage and the rest of the world was with Pakistan. Today the entire situation has changed," Modi said, adding that only China stood with Pakistan now.
In the exclusive interview with News18 Network’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Modi said people must acknowledge India’s upper hand at the global stage, hinting that better strategic ties with other countries had been forged under the current government. “We must understand this change. This is proof of our success," he said.
Speaking on ties with China, PM Modi said India remained committed to engaging on a bilateral level, despite differences on international issues.
“On one hand, we have a bilateral relations with China. We have investments there and they have investments in India. Amid all this, there are unresolved border disputes. India has one perspective on the matter, and China has another. Both sides have accepted that we have differences, but our objective is that these differences don’t turn into disputes," Modi said.
The PM was speaking on China’s move at the United Nations to block Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack that killed at least 40 soldiers. JeM had claimed responsibility of the attack.
All permanent members of the UN Security Council (United States, United Kingdom, France and Russia), barring China, had supported India’s bid to list Azhar as a global terrorist. This was the fourth time China moved to block India’s request at the UN.
PM Modi, refraining from taking a hard stance on China’s move, said that each country, including India, took decisions in their own manner in international matters. “In some matters, we take Palestine’s side, in others we take Israel’s. Sometimes we back Iran, and sometimes we support Arabic nations. All countries have their own strategies in their national interest," Modi said.
He also said India and China continue to hold high-level talks and matters of dispute were discussed in all meetings. “This issue (of Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist) has been discussed. It had come up earlier as well," Modi said.
(The full interview will be aired today at 7pm and 10pm on CNN-News18, News18 India, CNBC TV18 and other News18 regional channels.)
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