Just In: India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj raises the issue of China blocking India's bid at the UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar with her Chinese counterpart.

Swaraj arrived in Moscow today for the second leg of her two-nation visit, during which she will attend the annual foreign ministers' meeting of Russia, India and China (RIC).

"Namaste Moscow! EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Russia to attend RIC Foreign Ministers Conference tomorrow," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.


She is also expected to have a bilateral meet with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.  On the sidelines of RIC, Swaraj met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during which she raised the issue of China blocking India's bid at the United Nations to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar.

In Iran, she had a wide rage of engagements with several top Iranian leaders, including president Hassan Rouhani.

Earlier this month, China stopped UN sanctions committee from designating Azhar as terrorist, maintaining that the case "did not meet the requirements" of the Security Council. This is not the first time China has blocked India's bid to get Pakistan-based militant groups and leaders proscribed by the UN.

The UN had banned the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in 2001 but India's efforts for slapping sanctions on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks also did not fructify as China, that has veto powers, did not allow it apparently at the behest of Pakistan.


Pic: Sushma Swaraj with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi