China Blocks Bid for the Fourth Time in UNSC to List Azhar as Global Terrorist

Guwahati: It is for the fourth time that China blocked a bid in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to designate Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by putting a technical hold on the proposal which India has termed as disappointing.

On February 27, the UK, the US and France designated Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UNSC after a suicide bomb attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir which killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee members had 10 working days to raise any objections to the proposal and the no objection deadline was scheduled to end at 3 pm local time (New York) on Wednesday i.e. 12.30 am (Thursday) IST.

A diplomat in the UN said that just before the deadline, China has put a technical hold on the proposal and said that China needs more time to examine the proposal.

The Ministry of External Affairs, however, expressed disappointment while reacting to the development. It further stated that they are grateful to all the countries who have supported the bid to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

Meanwhile, Syed Akbaruddin, India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations tweeted, "Big, small and many. One big state holds up again, one small signal @UN against terror. Grateful to the many states- big and small who in unprecedented numbers joined as co-sponsors of the effort."

China which has in the past blocked India's bids to get Azhar listed as a UN designated global terrorist thrice are stalked by all.

The Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, however, said that if no objection is received by the end of the no-objection period the decision will be deemed adopted.

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang while addressing a press conference on Monday and Wednesday said that the UN Security Council and its subsidiary bodies run on strict rules. He said, "We already stressed China's position on the listing of terrorist organizations and individuals in the UN Security Council 1267 Committee on many occasions.

On Wednesday, Lu Kang said that China will continue to adopt a responsible attitude and participate in the deliberations in the UNSC 1267 Committee.

Commenting on listing Azhar, Lu Kang said that he wanted to say that China always adopts a responsible attitude, engage in consultations with various parties and properly deal with the issue.

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