New Delhi, May 1 (The Hindu/Express Tribune): In a major diplomatic victory for India, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) founder Masood Azhar was finally declared a “global terrorist” by the UN Security Council on Wednesday after China lifted its technical hold.
“The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’ish), al Qaeda, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Da’ish) and al Qaeda Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,” the UNSC said in a statement following the decision.
Confirmation of Masood Azhar’s listing came from India’s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin, who tweeted, “Big,small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.”
Hours before the UN’s decision, Pakistan appeared to have reconciled to the development. Government sources in Islamabad said Pakistan did not object to the terror tag for Masood Azhar any longer.
On Tuesday, Beijing had said that the vexed issue of designating the Pakistan-based Azhar as a global terrorist by the U.N. will be “properly resolved”.
Late April, India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale held talks in Beijing with top Chinese officials, including foreign minister Wang Yi, on key issues including the listing of the JeM chief.
In March, China had put a hold on the proposal to blacklist Azhar after France moved a resolution following the February 14 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF troopers. Beijing had said it needed more time to “study” the matter but added that it was “sincere” about building better ties with India.
It was the fourth time China had blocked such a move.
In the run-up to Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist, China and the U.S. had sparred with each other over the methodology after Washington said it would use “all available resources” to blacklist the JeM founder.
In the beginning of April, China had reiterated that it was “working hard” to resolve the matter of designating Azhar, as a global terrorist and strongly criticised Washington’s statement about using “all available resources” to do so as counterproductive.
China Satisfied With Revised Materials
China, which lifted its technical hold on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, said that it took the decision after it found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, the UK and France following a careful study of the revised materials.
China always believes that the relevant work should be carried out in an objective, unbiased and professional manner and based on solid evidence and consensus among all parties, a press release issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
“On this listing issue, China has been communicating with relevant parties in a constructive and responsible fashion. Recently, relevant countries revised and re-submitted the materials for the listing proposal to the 1267 Committee. After careful study of the revised materials and taking into consideration the opinions of relevant parties concerned, China does not have objection to the listi
View Fron Pakistan
Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal confirmed the development, saying the UNSC decision entails three steps i.e. assets freeze, arms embargo and travel restrictions.
Pakistan rejected earlier proposals to list the JeM chief as they lacked technical criteria and were aimed at maligning Pakistan and hindering the movement in occupied Kashmir, said Dr Faisal and added that the proposals had a political agenda.
The FO spokesperson further said India is presenting today’s development as its victory and confirmation of its narrative, but these claims are unfounded and false. He said recent proposals to list Azhar were motivated by Pulwama attack and aimed at undermining the legitimate freedom movement in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
“Once politically motivated attempts to link it with the Pulwama incident and the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for the realisation of the right to self-determination were removed, the current amended listing proposal was approved,” he added.
The spokesperson also reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to counter terrorism and underscored that no country in the world can match Pakistan’s efforts, achievements and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
“Pakistan maintains that terrorism is a menace to the world. This includes the Indian state sponsored terrorism against innocent Kashmiris in IOK, including the inhuman use of pellet guns and human shields, which find no parallel in the civilized world. Indian occupation forces continue to massacre Kashmiris, enjoying judicial immunity with impunity through draconian laws. We will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to our Kashmiri brethren.”
Govt issues ‘guidelines’ to curb terror financing
Since January 2019, the government had accelerated the implementation of the National Action Plan against terrorism and extremism. The NAP includes a range of actions against UN proscribed entities and individuals. Notwithstanding the challenges, progress is being made and further work will continue in line with national consensus and interest.
Earlier in the day, a Pakistani official had said said China withdrew its opposition after consultations with Pakistan. He further added that Pakistan agreed to the listing after its objections were addressed.
Last month, Pakistan issued elaborate and comprehensive guidelines detailing steps to implement the UNSC resolution 1267 to curb terror financing – in a major move that aims at seeking removal of its name from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘grey list.’
Pakistan has been on the ‘grey list’ since June last year for failing to curb terror financing.
Govt issues ‘guidelines’ to curb terror financing
Last month, Pakistan issued elaborate and comprehensive guidelines detailing steps to implement the UNSC resolution 1267 to curb terror financing – in a major move that aims at seeking removal of its name from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘greylist.’
Pakistan has been on the ‘grey list’ since June last year for failing to curb terror financing.
In February, FATF—an inter-governmental body whose purpose is development and promotion of policies, at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terror financing—expressed dissatisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to implement its plan of action to get its name removed from the grey list.
The major concern of the FATF includes Pakistan’s lack of action or absence of comprehensive plan to freeze assets and impose other restrictions on individuals and entities listed by the UNSC Sanctions Committee under resolution 1267.
(The picture at the top shows Masood Azhar)
