ISLAMABAD – In a diplomatic blow for India, China and Russia on Wednesdayrefused to name either Pakistan or JeM in the joint declaration overcounter terrorism.

All agreed for a closer policy coordination to eradicate the terrorism”.

Their commitment came at the conclusion of the Russia, India and ChinaForeign Ministers’ meeting here in the east Chinese city.”We agreed tojointly combat all forms terrorism through closer policy coordination andpractical cooperation.

Especially important is to eradicate the breeding grounds of terrorism andextremism,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the end meetingsumming up the discussions on terrorism.

The Chinese foreign minister highlighted that Pakistan, which is a closeally of Beijing, is also opposed to terrorism.

“China, Russia and India have reaffirmed our strong opposition to terrorismin various forms and manifestations.

At the same time, we believe that Pakistan has always been opposed toterrorism,” he said at the joint press conference with External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Elaborating on China’s stand Wang said “on the recent developments betweenIndia and Pakistan, China appreciates the statements from Indian andPakistani friends saying that they will exercise and avoid escalation ofthe situation.” He said China for its part is playing a constructive roleas a “mutual friend”.

“As a mutual friend to both India and Pakistan, we do hope that they canconduct dialogue to establish facts through investigation to keep thingsunder control, maintain peace and stability in the region.

In this process, China is playing a constructive role and not theopposite,” he said.

“As far as the joint strategy is concerned, you just heard foreign ministerWang Yi’s speech. What he said during his concluding statement, hereiterated here and he said that we would cooperate on eradicating thebreeding grounds of terrorism”.”This is not only a common strategy for thethree of us, but it is resolution for the three of us.

Wang Yi said this during his concluding remarks and reiterated it here,”she said.”Terrorism is a threat to the humanity that is why not only forour three countries, we also need a global strategy. We need globalcooperation,” she said and cited references to terrorism in the jointstatement.

“On the one hand we have gained consensus on the UN led counterterrorismmechanism, while alongside we have also discussed the India proposedComprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) mechanism shouldalso be soon finalised and adopted,” she said.