For the fourth time, China has blocked listing of Masood Azhar on United Nations terror list since 2016.
New Delhi: In a big blow to India's counter-terror effort, China has yet again blocked listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist under the 1267 committee of United Nations Security Council. This is the fourth time China has blocked listing of Masood Azhar on United Nations terror list since 2016.
Confirming the Development Ministry of External Affairs in a release said, "1267 Sanctions Committee, upon completion of the no-objection period on 13 March 2019, was not able to come to a decision on the proposal for listing Mohammed Masood Azhar Alvi under the UN Sanctions regime, on account of a member placing the proposal on hold."
Expressing disappointment New Delhi said, "We are disappointed by this outcome. This has prevented action by the international community to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a prescribed and active terrorist organization which has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February 2019."
Masood Azhar is the chief of Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish e Mohammad (JeM). JeM was the group which took responsibility for the February 14th Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.
India said, "It is grateful for the efforts of the Member States who moved the designation proposal and the unprecedented number of all other Security Council members as well as non-members who joined as co-sponsors." " We will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice," added.
India's permanent representative to United Nation, Syed Akbaruddin in a tweet said, "Big, Small & Many...1 big state holds up, again...1 small signal @UN against terror. Grateful to the many states - big & small - who in unprecedented numbers, joined as co-sponsors of the effort. "
On Wednesday, China hinted at the continuation of its stance on Azhar's listing when Spokesperson of Chinese foreign ministry Lu Kang said, "I would like to reiterate that the Chinese government will continue to participate in the review work of the Security Council 1267 Committee in a responsible manner."
The development comes even as 2018 saw one of the best years between India and China and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting four times.
Washington had also urged Beijing to list Azhar for the sake of regional stability and peace. Replying to a question at the state department presser, Deputy Spokesperson of state department Robert Palladino said, "United States and China share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace, and that a failure to designate Azhar would run counter to this goal."
France, US and UK had proposed listing of Azhar in the last week of February with Russia backing the move. It is believed that China's blocking of Azhar's listing sends a message that it will back Pakistan despite Islamabad's support to terror due to Bejing's economic interest in the south Asian country. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan provides China with a connect to West Asia.
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