India on Thursday expressed “disappointment” after China blocked yet another move at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”. The latest Chinese move is the fourth instance in the last over one decade that it has blocked sanctioning of the dreaded terrorist.
For her part, Union Minster Harsimrat Kaur Badal exhorted people to boycott Chinese goods even as #boycottchinesegoods trended on microblogging site Twitter.
“We are disappointed by this outcome. This has prevented action by the international community to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a proscribed and active terrorist organisation which has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14,” the MEA said.
The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, nearly two weeks after the suicide bombing in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack.
“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,” the MEA said expressing gratitude to 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.
The development at the UN also led to a sparring between the ruling BJP and the Congress. Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Weak Modi is scared of Xi. Not a word comes out of his mouth when China acts against India. NoMo’s China diplomacy: 1. Swing with Xi in Gujarat. 2. Hug Xi in Delhi. 3. Bow to Xi in China.”
“With China having blocked our bid to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist, the question on every Indian’s mind is, what was the use of all the swinging with Modi and President Xi,” the Congress said on its official Twitter handle.
Reacting to Congress’ charge, the BJP hit back at Rahul, asking why he is in a celebratory mood whenever India is in pain over China blocking a UN resolution against Azhar. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Why is Rahul Gandhi in a celebratory mood when country stands failed by this attitude of China? Your tweet would be shown in the office of Jaish-e- Muhammad with much merry...I ask with great pain today that what is the Congress’commitment today to fight against terror.”
Meanwhile, China defended its stance against designation of Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the move would give it time for a “thorough and in-depth assessment” of the case and help the parties concerned to engage in more talks to find a “lasting solution” acceptable to all.
On a question as to why China once again blocked the move, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing in Beijing that the decision is in line with the rules of the committee.
Stung by the Chinese move, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said in a tweet, “Met with Indian FS Gokhale to advance progress on the US-India strategic partnership & our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, as well as reiterate that the US stands shoulder-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism.”
“Both (Gokhale and Bolton) underlined the importance of Pakistan taking tangible and irreversible action against terrorist groups based in territories under its control and denial of safe haven for these groups to launch cross -border attacks,” the Indian Embassy in Washington said in a readout of the meeting.