In a strong response to China’s move to block a United Nations proposal to designate Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Sajid Mir as a “global terrorist,” India has expressed its disappointment, stating that it demonstrates a lack of genuine political will to combat terrorism. Mir is wanted for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
China’s decision to block the proposal, co-designated by India and moved by the United States, came as a setback on Tuesday. The proposal aimed to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, subjecting him to asset freezes, travel bans, and an arms embargo. China had previously paused the proposal in September.
In a strongly-worded statement, Prakash Gupta, joint secretary at India’s permanent mission in New York, criticised the failure to ban terrorists due to “petty geopolitical interests,” suggesting a lack of genuine political will to address the terrorism challenge.
Gupta emphasised the need to avoid double standards and the justifications of “good terrorists versus bad terrorists,” emphasising that terrorism is terrorism without any justifications. He questioned the blocking of evidence-based listing proposals without providing any reasons, especially in the current era of accountability and transparency.
Referring to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Gupta highlighted their impact on the global counterterrorism architecture and the collective conscience of the world’s largest democracy. He played an audio clip of Mir instructing terrorists from Pakistan during the attacks, illustrating his role in the heinous act.
The Mumbai attacks involved ten heavily armed assailants who carried out urban warfare, resulting in the deaths of 166 innocent individuals, including 26 foreigners. Gupta lamented the lack of justice for the victims, noting that Mir is listed as a proscribed terrorist under Indian and international laws.
Expressing concern about the failure to list established terrorists under the Security Council’s sanctions regime, Gupta questioned the genuine political will to fight terrorism if petty geopolitical interests take precedence. He pointed out that even 15 years after the Mumbai attacks, the masterminds in Pakistan have not been brought to justice.
Mir, in his mid-40s, is considered one of India’s most wanted terrorists and carries a USD 5 million bounty placed by the US for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks. Last year, he was sentenced to over 15 years in a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan.
However, doubts remain regarding his reported death, as demanded by Western countries seeking proof. This issue has become a significant point of contention in the Financial Action Task Force’s assessment of Pakistan’s progress in fulfilling its action plan.
India’s strong condemnation of China’s blockage of the United Nations proposal highlights the ongoing challenges in the fight against terrorism and the need for international cooperation to ensure the perpetrators of such heinous acts are brought to justice.
