China has strongly protested against New Delhi's decision to permit Uyghur activists to come to India to meet Dalai Lama in a move meant to raise the stakes in conflict against Beijing at a time when it has rebuffed India's attempt to designate Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar a worldwide terrorist.

On Friday, MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said, "We have seen the media reports, and the external affairs ministry is trying to ascertain the facts."

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying replied, "What I want to point out is that Dolkun (World Uyghur Congress member Dolkun Isa) is a terrorist in red notice of the Interpol and Chinese police. Bringing him to justice is the due obligation of relevant countries."

As first reported by TOI, a group of activists from the Washington-based World Uyghur Congress is likely to visit Dalai Lama in Dharamsala for an inter-ethnic/inter-faith dialogue planned by the spiritual leader. As per the thinktank, "USIP and the Dalai Lama will host a dialogue with ... peacebuilders ... (which) will help them build practical skills and personal resilience they need to work against the tensions or violence in their homelands."

India's retaliatory negotiation comes after China decided to put a "hold" on Masood Azhar's terror designation. Meanwhile, Isa has been quoted by media houses as saying that he had already been given a visa by the Indian government for the conference, but he would take a final decision only after analyzing his security in India. China has got a Red Corner Interpol Notice issued against him.