NL Correspondent
United Nations, May 01
In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations on Wednesday designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him.
“Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support,” India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
China removed its hold on the proposal, which was moved by France, UK and the US in the Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February just days after the deadly Pulwama terror attack carried out by the Pakistan-based terror outfit 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.
When asked whether China has lifted the hold, Akbaruddin told PTI: “Yes, done”. The sanctions committee makes its decisions by consensus of its members.
In recent days, there had been indications that China is likely to come around and will lift its hold on the Azhar proposal. Beijing had said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be “properly resolved”.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing in Beijing Tuesday that “we support the listing issue being settled within the 1267 committee through dialogue and consultation and I believe this is the consensus of most members. Second, the relevant consultations are going on within the committee and have achieved some progress. Third, I believe, with the joint efforts of all parties, this issue can be properly resolved”.
Beijing put the hold on the proposal on March 13, scuttling yet another attempt to blacklist the JeM chief. The proposal was the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist.
In 2009, India moved a proposal by itself to designate Azhar.
In 2016 again India moved the proposal with the P3-the United States, the United Kingdom and France- in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January 2016.
In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee.
Keeping up the international pressure to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, the US, supported by France and the UK, moved a draft resolution directly in the UN Security Council to blacklist the Pakistan-based terror organization's head.
Beijing lifting its hold is a massive diplomatic win for India, which had relentlessly pursued the matter with its international allies. There had been sustained international pressure on China, particularly from the US, to remove its objection to Azhar's listing.
Hectic discussions between New Delhi, Washington, New York and Beijing had ensued after the March 13 hold by Beijing as it was clear that India will not relent on the matter.
Diplomats at the UN's principal organ had warned that responsible member-states of the Security Council “may be forced to pursue other actions” if China continued to block moves to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.
Beijing had staunchly opposed the Azhar listing to be taken directly to the powerful UN body as it would have had to publicly explain its stand on its reservations to list Azhar, whose group JeM has already been designated as terror outfit by the UN, before exercising its veto.
Reacting to the United Nations Security Council's decision, the BJP termed it a historic victory for India against terrorism.
Sources had told that the statement of the case of the latest proposal by France had mentioned that JeM had taken responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
The statement of the case had also noted that Azhar is a former leader of the terrorist group Harakat al Mujahadin and he had given a call to volunteers to join the fight in Afghanistan against Western forces.
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. PTI
Masood's listing as global terrorist big success for 130 crore Indians: Modi
Jaipur, May 01
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the declaring of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations was the biggest success for 130 crore Indians.
Modi said the UN decision is a big success for India's efforts to root out terrorism and proved that the country's voice can no longer be ignored on the global stage.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that a consensus has developed in the world on designating Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. Der aye, durust aye (Better late than never),” Modi told a mammoth election rally at VT Road ground in support of party candidates Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Rathore and Jaskaur Meena.
“It is a big success for India's efforts since long to root out terrorism,” he said.
“It is the roaring voice of 130 crore Indians that brought this day in the Indian history,” an overwhelmed Modi said adding that now Indian voice is heard world over and it is proved by the UNSC decision.
He said under the previous “remote-controlled” government, even the voice of the prime minister was not heard, but now, the voice of 130 crore Indians is making an impact at the United Nations.
“I want to say it loud and clear that this is just the beginning. Wait for what happens next,” Modi said.
The prime minister said he was thankful to the world community for standing with India in its fight against terrorism.
He said a small section in Pakistan which wants a bright future for their country has started openly speaking out against terrorism.
The PM referred to the surgical strike and the air strike in Balakot and said that with today's development, the nation is witnessing India's diplomatic victory.
Targeting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “When we were working towards this, the ‘naamdar' (dynast) was expressing his happiness through his tweets. One section was very happy and they were mocking Modi. I want to tell them today that this is not just Modi's success, it is the success of the whole country and its 130 crore people.
“I hope they will celebrate today also. For every Indian, no matter their ideology, it is a day of pride,” he added. — With PTI
