A decision on whether Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar will be listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations will be known Wednesday as the world body’s sanctions committee holds a crucial meeting, amid indications that China could lift its hold on the proposal to blacklist him.
The Council’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee is expectedto meet here and the issue of Azhar’s listing is likely to be considered.Sources said that the outcome of the meeting – whether UNSC permanent memberChina decides to lift its hold on the proposal to blacklist Azhar, paving theway for the UN to slap sanctions against him – will be known Wednesday.
Beijing said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designatingAzhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be “properly resolved.”
China had put a hold in March on a fresh proposal by the US,UK and France to impose a ban on the chief of the JeM which claimedresponsibility for the deadly Pulwama attack. The proposal was the fourth suchbid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist.
In 2009, India had moved a proposal by itself to designateAzhar.
In 2016 again India moved the proposal with the P3 – theUnited States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN’s 1267 SanctionsCommittee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base inPathankot in January, 2016.
In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again.
However, on all occasions China, a veto-wielding permanentmember of the Security Council, blocked India’s proposal from being adopted bythe Sanctions Committee.
“I can only say that I believe that this will beproperly resolved,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told amedia briefing in Beijing.
He was responding to questions on the media reports thatChina has reportedly consented to lift its technical hold on a fresh proposalmoved by France, the UK and the US to list Azhar under the 1267 Al QaedaSanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.
Keeping up the international pressure to designate Azhar asa global terrorist, the US, supported by France and the UK, moved a draftresolution directly in the UN Security Council to blacklist the Pakistan-basedterror organisation’s head.
Though China can exercise its veto power as a permanentmember of the UNSC, Beijing has staunchly opposed the issue to be taken to theapex UN body as it has to publicly explain its stand on its reservations tolist Azhar, whose group JeM has already been designated as terror outfit by UN,before exercising its veto.
“Regarding the listing issue in the 1267 Committee, wehave expressed our position many times and I just want to stress twopoints,” Geng said answering a number of questions on Azhar’s issue.
“First, we support the listing issue being settledwithin the 1267 committee through dialogue and consultation and I believe thisis the consensus of most members. Second, the relevant consultations are goingon within the committee and has achieved some progress. Third, I believe, withthe joint efforts of all parties, this issue can be properly resolved,” hesaid.
On reports that China would lift its technical hold on May1, he said, “on the listing issue, China is still working with therelevant parties and we are in contact with all relevant parties within the1267 Committee and I believe with the joint efforts of all parties, this willbe properly resolved.”
A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze,travel ban and an arms embargo.
An assets freeze under the Sanctions Committee requires thatall states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets oreconomic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The travel ban entails preventing the entry into or transitby all states through their territories by designated individuals.
Under the arms embargo, all states are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities. The efforts to resolve Azhar’s listing issue gathered momentum last week with the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to Beijing to attend China’s 2nd Belt and Road Forum held from April 25-27.
During the visit, Khan held talks with Xi, besides meetingPremier Li Keqiang and Vice President Wang Qishan during which India-Pakistantension following the Pulwama terror attack as well as listing of Azharreportedly figured.
An official statement of China issued after Xi-Khan meetingon Sunday said the Chinese President had expressed hope that Pakistan and Indiacan meet each other halfway and improve their relations.