UNSC members promise other actions if Azhar not designated global terrorist
New Delhi: India expressed ‘disappointment’ Wednesday night after China blocked yet another move at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’. This is the fourth occasion that China has done so.
The proposal this time to designate Azhar as a global terrorist had been moved by the US, the UK and France, a step which had been supported by India and maximum members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Most members of the UNSC were disappointed with, China’s stand. They said that they would be forced to pursue other means to stop the activities of the JeM and Azhar. The External Affairs Ministry (MEA) said India will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that leaders of terror groups involved in heinous attacks on Indian citizens are brought to justice.
“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, February 14,” the MEA said in a statement.
“We are 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,” the MEA added.
Meanwhile responsible members of the UNSC said that they would be forced to pursue other actions if China continues with its stand on Azhar.
“If China continues to block this designation, responsible Member States may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn’t come to that,” an UNSC diplomat stated on condition of anonymity.
“This is the fourth time that China has placed a hold on this listing. China should not prevent the
committee from doing the job the Security Council has entrusted it to do,” another diplomat stated, categorically.
China however, sought Thursday to defend its fourth technical hold at the UNSC to block the designation Azhar as a global terrorist. It said the decision would help the parties concerned to engage in more talks to find a ‘lasting solution’ acceptable to all.
“As to the technical hold at the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee our action is to make sure that the panel will have enough time to study the matter so that the relevant sides will have time for dialogue and consultation,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang in Beijing. “Only a solution that is acceptable to all sides could fundamentally provide a chance for a lasting solution to the issue,” he added.
To another question on the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping last year to improve the bilateral relations, Lu said, “Xi and Modi met four times. The Wuhan summit made great progress. China is full of sincerity and ready to work with India to build on the consensus of our leaders for greater progress in the bilateral relations.”