India examining ‘all options’ to get Azhar listed as global terrorist

New Delhi, January 6  

Undeterred by China blocking its move to list Pakistan-based JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, India has initiated discussions with several member countries of the UN Security Council and is exploring various options on the issue.

“We are examining all options and also consulting with the other co-sponsors,” government sources said.

India had reacted sharply to China’s resistance to its proposal at the UN on December 30, saying Beijing’s decision reflected prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.

India was hopeful that China would support the proposal at the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as it came days after NIA filed charge sheet against Azhar in the Pathankot terror attack case.

The sources said India has not set any time frame for making a fresh start in getting the JeM chief designated as global terrorist by the UN.

China’s “technical hold” on New Delhi’s move on Azhar had expired on December 31 and India or any other UNSC member country has to now make a fresh listing request for the terrorist to be banned by the global body.

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

China was the only member on the 15-nation UNSC Sanctions Committee to have opposed India’s application.

China had dismissed India’s criticism, saying it had adopted a “just, objective and professional” attitude in deciding the issue.

Earlier this week, India had asked Beijing to hear the “voice of the world” in dealing with terror and hoped it would be able to persuade the country to understand the “depth and evil” of the menace.

Meanwhile, in a rare dissent against official policy, a former Chinese diplomat who served in India has sought change in China’s repeated efforts to block India’s bid to slap a UN ban on JeM leader Masood Azhar arguing that he is a terrorist and Beijing should “adjust” its stand accordingly.

In his lengthy blog on social media WeChat public account about the India-China stalemate over Azhar, Mao Siwei — who previously served as China’s Consul General in Kolkata — said China should take advantage of India’s complaint against Azhar and “get rid of the passive diplomatic situation” between the two countries.

The blog published on December 28, two days before China refused to lift its technical hold on India’s application, allowing it to lapse, Mao highlighted the history of Pakistan- based terror organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e- Muhammad and how they carried out violent attacks whenever India and Pakistan made efforts to normalise their relations. — PTI