China has once again blocked an attempt by countries to designate Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. According to Government sources, the United States of America, supported by the United Kingdom and France, moved a proposal at the United Nation’s Sanctions Committee 1267 in last month to proscribe Azhar.
The proposal, which was finalised after consultations between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources said. UNSC listing would have forced imposition of asset freeze and travel ban on Azhar by countries including Pakistan. It is learnt that 14 out of 15 countries in the committee are in favour of banning Azhar, and China is the only one opposing the move.
The US-backed proposal came barely a month after India’s effort to get Azhar banned by the UN was blocked by China in December.
However, China opposed the US move by putting a ‘hold’ on the proposal. The Chinese action came just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold.
Reacting to the ‘hold’ by China, Indian officials said they are pursuing the matter with the Chinese authorities. “We note with concern China’s decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar. The matter has been taken up with the Chinese Government,”Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Tuesday.
The ‘hold’ remains for six months and can be further extended by three months. During this period, it can be anytime converted into a ‘block’, thereby, ending the life of the proposal. China had earlier twice put a ‘technical hold’ before finally blocking the Indian proposal in December.