US Moves UN for JeM Chief Masood Azhar’s Ban; China Opposes

The American proposal came weeks after India’s efforts to get Azhar banned by the UN in December last.

Masood Azhar, chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group. (Photo: Reuters)

A significant bid by the US in the United Nations for designating Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist has been stymied by China, which has again opposed the ban against the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief.

The American proposal came barely weeks after India’s efforts to get Azhar banned by the UN were blocked by China last December.

According to senior government sources, the US, supported by the UK and France, moved a proposal at the UN’s Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of last month to proscribe Azhar.

The proposal, which was finalised after “consultations” between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources said.

“However, China opposed the US move by putting a hold on the proposal,” a source said, adding the Chinese action came just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold.

The “hold” remains for six months and can be further extended by three months. During this period, it can be converted into a “block” anytime, thereby ending the life of the proposal.

UN Sanction Committee’s listing would have forced imposition of asset freeze and travel ban on Azhar by countries including Pakistan.

MEA Responds

The Ministry of External Affairs responded to the move and the subsequent Chinese opposition: “We have been informed of this development and the matter has been taken up with Chinese government.”

(With inputs from PTI)