Chinese media today reported that Xi Jinping held talks with Modi and leaders from other countries but not with Nawaz Sharif allegedly over the killing of two Chinese nationals in Balochistan.
In a rare and unprecedented development, Chinese President Xi Jinping who held talks with Prime Minister Modi on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, did not hold talks with Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif.
China's State media today reported that Xi only held talks with PM Modi, as well as with leaders of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the King of Spain who is in Astana for a world expo held alongside the SCO summit.
Diplomatic sources said it is highly unusual for the Chinese and Pakistani leaders to not meet at a summit, especially when a China-India bilateral meet takes place given Pakistan's usual sensitivities.
This was all the more significant given that at the SCO summit, the entry of both India and Pakistan as the newest members of the six-nation grouping was confirmed. Considering the symbolic value for embattled Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, who held bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the absence of a meeting with the Chinese leader was all the more glaring.
WHY XI DID NOT MEET SHARIF?
This comes amid anger in China over the reported killing of two Chinese nationals who had been kidnapped in Balochistan May-end.
China on Friday said it was "gravely concerned" by reports that ISIS had claimed the kidnapping and had reportedly killed the two young Chinese, who were language teachers in a town near Quetta.
The case has received wide attention in Chinese media and underlined the concerns in China even as the government goes ahead with major investments in Pakistan.
On Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "We are highly concerned."
Hua said China had "always been advising Chinese citizens to not visit highly risky regions" but did not clarify if any prior warnings for Balochistan had been issued.
Hua, however, said the incident "has no necessary connection" either with the Belt and Road Initiative or the SCO gathering and that Pakistan "pays great attention to the protection of Chinese citizens and institutions and has made great efforts in this regard".
By: Ananth Krishnan (India Today).
Photo: Alchetron.
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