NEW DELHI : China has blocked the UN sanctions against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, scuttling India’s move to put a ban on the kingpin of the Pathankot terror attack under the 1267 sanctions committee.
China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on March 31 this year till the year end.
India has sharply reacted to China’s decision, saying that the move was surprising as Beijing itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism. As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation.
“We note with concern China’s decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council which had been presented nine months ago and had received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee,” the MEA said in a statement.
It said the international community is aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack.
The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism, the statement said.
As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation.
“We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism,” the spokesperson said.
“On our part, we will continue to push forward with resolute determination through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice,” he said.
After China’s decision, the proposal against Masood Azhar will go to cold storage till the fresh listing of request is made at the committee, sources in the MEA said.
China had two options at the UN. One, Beijing could have allowed its technical hold to lapse. Second option was to convert the “hold” into a “block” to demonstrate its “all weather ally” Pakistan that it was with Islamabad and terrorist leaders being harboured in Pakistan. China opted for the latter. (AGENCIES)
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