The”breakthrough” in designating Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”came during Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to China wherethe two sides agreed to withdraw their opposition to the latest move toblacklist the JeM chief, a media report said here Thursday.
Hours after sanctionswere imposed on Azhar, the Express Tribune newspaper, quoting diplomaticsources, reported that Pakistan and China held extensive discussions beforemaking a decision on the Azhar issue.
“It is believed thatthe breakthrough came during the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan toChina where both sides agreed to withdraw opposition to the latest move afterrealising that Islamabad’s concerns were addressed,” the report said.
Khan was in Beijing toattend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping fromApril 25 to 27. Apart from President Xi, the Pakistan prime minister met hisChinese counterpart Li Keqiang as well as Vice President Wang Qishan.