The six-month validity of the technical hold imposed by China on India’s bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN will “lapse” soon and the Pathankot attack mastermind could be sanctioned if Beijing does not block the move again.
On March 31, China had blocked India’s move to put a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader under the Sanctions Committee of the Council. China was the sole member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India’s application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi’s bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.
Sources said the six-month validity of the technical hold is set to “lapse” in about a week-10 days time and unless
China again seeks to bloc or veto the resolution on some pretext, the resolution
could stand passed automatically, designating Azhar as a terrorist.