Hours after China blocked yet another attempt to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a 'global terrorist', both India and the United States, in an unusually tough message, sought to pursue alternative actions to punish him. A US diplomat warned China that UNSC members "may be forced to pursue other actions". This was the fourth time China has used its veto power to block the proposal at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"Pakistan has quite often depended on China to protect it from the listing of Pakistan-based terrorist groups and individuals in the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee," a UNSC diplomat was quoted saying by news agency PTI, "The case for designating Masood Azhar — the leader of a group the UN already calls an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation—– is undeniable."
An unprecedented number of countries backed the proposal.
As many as 11 countries out of total of 15 UNSC members voted for the JeM chief to be branded a 'global terrorist'. Late on Wednesday, Germany pledged itself as a co-sponsor to the proposal.
The United States embassy in Delhi also expressed regret. "The United States and China share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace, and a failure to designate Azhar runs counter to this goal," a statement said. The superpower had already stated succinctly that Azhar "clearly meets the criteria for the designation (of a global terrorist)" as defined by the United Nations.
Chinese foreign spokesperson Lu Kang had said on Wednesday that the country needs more time to study the case. "We still need more time and thus put forward a technical hold, which is in full compliance with the rules of procedure of the Security Council Committee," he said.
Expressing its disappointment on China's stand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement saying it would continue pursuing efforts and available avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on Indian citizens were brought to justice.
"Big, Small & Many...1 big state holds up, again...1 small signal @UN against terror," India's permanent representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin, tweeted. "Grateful to the many states — big & small — who in unprecedented numbers, joined as co-sponsors of the effort."
US Congressman Brad Sherman described China's move as unacceptable. "Once again, China has blocked the UN from imposing sanctions on Masood Azhar... This is unacceptable," he said, adding "I urge Beijing to allow the UN to place sanctions on Azhar, the leader of a UN-recognized terrorist organization."
"Is China's stance on Mazood Azhar (sic) a reflection of the soft position that some leaders & political parties have taken? Blocking us for the 4th time at the UN, China is not setting the right example for the global fight against terrorism," tweeted former chief of Army staff and serving minister of state for External Affairs, Vijay Kumar Singh.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had discussed terrorism emanating from Pakistan with US National Security Advisor John Boltan when they met on Wednesday. The Indian embassy in Washington had subsequently said that both India and the US "underlined the importance of Pakistan taking tangible and irreversible action against terrorist groups based in territories under its control and deny safe haven for these groups to launch cross-border attacks."
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