UNITED NATIONS, May 1 - In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations on Wednesday designated Masood Azhar as a �global terrorist� after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, a decade after New Delhi approached the world body for the first time on the issue.
�Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support,� India�s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
The UN committee listed Azhar on May 1, 2019 as being associated with Al-Qaeda for �participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of�, �supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material to�, �recruiting for�, �otherwise supporting acts or activities of�, and �other acts or activities indicating association with� the JeM.
A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. An assets freeze under the sanctions committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
�This is for us a significant outcome because we have been at it for several years. The first effort that we made in this regard was in 2009. More recently, we have been persistent diligent and in a subterranean manner making all our efforts towards this goal. Today that goal stands achieved,� Akbaruddin said.
�All in all it�s been a happy day, a good day for all this who would like to pursue the approach of zero tolerance for terrorism,� he said.
China earlier removed its hold on the proposal moved by France, UK and the US in the UNSC�s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February just days after the deadly Pulwama terror attack carried out by the JeM.
A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China was the sole hold-out in the 15-nation body on the bid to blacklist Azhar, blocking attempts by placing a �technical hold� and asking for �more time to examine� the proposal. All decisions of the committee are taken through consensus.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China lifted technical hold after Beijing found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, the UK and France following a careful study of the revised materials.
�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 listing proposal,� he said.
The US welcomed the listing of Azhar and sought �sustained actions� from Pakistan against terrorism, consistent with its international obligations.
�We expect all countries to uphold these obligations,� a spokesperson for the US Mission in UN told PTI, noting that the JeM is a UN-designated terrorist group, and Azhar, as the founder and leader of JeM, clearly met the criteria for designation by the world body.
France also welcomed the UN move to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, saying it �signals the successful realisation� of its efforts. � PTI
