India, China are victims of terrorism, PM Modi tells Xi

In what could be a shift in New Delhi’s recent positions on the issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping that both countries are “victims” of terrorism and should work together to combat the “scourge” of cross-border terrorism.

Responding to a number of questions from the media about whether Mr. Modi had raised the issue of terrorism and, in particular, the Pahalgam terror attacks that India has blamed Pakistan for, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the issue was discussed during Sunday’s bilateral meeting.

“[The] Prime Minister outlined his understanding very crisply and very specifically. He outlined the fact that this is a scourge that both China and India have been victims of, and India is still combating this menace, and he asked for China’s support on this particular issue,” Mr. Misri said at the media briefing held in Tianjin after the talks.

In response to another question, Mr. Misri reiterated that the Prime Minister mentioned cross-border terrorism as a priority. “[Mr. Modi] underlined the fact that this is something that impacts both India and China and that it’s important therefore that we extend understanding and extend support to each other as both of us combat cross-border terrorism,” he added, side-stepping a question on China’s support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.