Beijing: China said Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be ‘properly resolved’ but it did not give any timeline, days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan here.
China put a technical hold in March on a fresh proposal to impose a ban on the head of Pakistan-based JeM which claimed responsibility for the deadly Pulwama terror attack. It was for the fourth time, China blocked Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist by the UN.
“I can only say that I believe that this will be properly resolved,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here. He was responding to questions on the media reports that China has reportedly consented to lift its technical hold on a fresh proposal moved by France, the UK and the US to list Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The US, the UK and France this time stepped up pressure on Beijing by taking the issue directly to the powerful UN Security Council (UNSC). China had opposed the move.
China has accused the US of scuttling progress to resolve the issue by taking it to the UNSC and insisted that it should be resolved at the 1267 Committee whose proceedings are not publicised.
“Regarding the listing issue in the 1267 Committee, we have expressed our position many times and I just want to stress on a few points,” Geng said answering a number of questions on Azhar’s issue.
“First, we support the listing issue being settled within the 1267 committee through dialogue and consultation and I believe this is the consensus of most members. Second, the relevant consultations are going on within the committee and have achieved some progress. Third, I believe, with the joint efforts of all parties, this issue can be properly resolved,” added Geng.
On reports that China would lift its technical hold May 1, Geng said, “On the listing issue, China is still working with the relevant parties and we are in contact with all relevant parties within the 1267 Committee and I believe with the joint efforts of all parties, this will be properly resolved.”
