Jaishankar raises Pahalgam attack in Beijing, calls for stability in India–China ties

Foreign minister S. Jaishankar used his high‑stakes visit to Beijing this week to convey India’s “deep concerns” over the Pahalgam terror attack and press Chinese leaders on the importance of restraint and regional stability, even as both sides signaled a cautious thaw in ties frozen since the 2020 Galwan clash.

Jaishankar, who met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and later called on President Xi Jinping during his  14–16 July trip, said India “expects all responsible powers to discourage such acts of cross‑border violence” and underlined that “peace and tranquility remain the foundation for the India–China relationship.”

Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday in Beijing, Jaishankar said the Pahalgam attack, in which several security personnel and civilians were killed earlier this month, underscored the urgent need for all SCO members—including China and Pakistan—to crack down on terrorism and stop providing safe havens to militant groups.

This marked Jaishankar’s first visit to China since relations deteriorated in mid‑2020, and came amid modest efforts to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors. Indian officials said his meetings sought to “stabilize the relationship without papering over differences,” particularly on border disengagement and trade curbs.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi struck a conciliatory tone, describing India and China as “partners who help each other succeed” and framing the relationship as having its own “historical logic and internal driving force.” Wang said both sides needed to set aside rivalry narratives and focus on cooperation through mechanisms like the SCO.

Chinese vice-president Han Zheng called the anniversary “a new journey” for bilateral ties, praising the resumption of high‑level exchanges and expressing hope for deeper business and people‑to‑people engagement. Both sides agreed to work toward restoring direct flights and reviving stalled initiatives such as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Jaishankar, for his part, acknowledged the “recent progress” in stabilizing ties but said India expected concrete steps on border disengagement and a reversal of “unjustified” trade restrictions imposed since the Ladakh standoff. He told Wang Yi that India values dialogue but will not overlook security concerns—including terrorism and Chinese support to Pakistan’s positions at international fora.

Opposition leaders, however, were quick to criticize the government’s handling of the visit.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi derided Jaishankar’s engagement with Xi Jinping as a “full‑blown circus” that undermines India’s negotiating position.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote: “I guess the Chinese foreign minister will come and apprise Modi about recent developments in China–India ties. This is what happens when your foreign policy becomes a circus.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also weighed in, questioning why the Modi government refuses to debate China policy in parliament despite the Galwan clash and Beijing’s deepening ties with Pakistan. Ramesh accused the government of giving Beijing a “public clean chit” that confuses India’s allies and weakens its bargaining power.

Both Indian and Chinese statements from the meetings pointed to a shared readiness to maintain calm along the border and keep communication lines open, even as mistrust lingers over troop deployments and Beijing’s vetoes at the UN.