'Just the beginning': PM Modi on UN listing Jaish chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the listing of Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the United Nations is a major breakthrough in India's fight against terrorism and efforts it has been making to uproot the menace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the listing of Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the United Nations is a major breakthrough in India's fight against terrorism and efforts it has been making to uproot the menace. "The UN Security Council has banned Masood Azhar, chief of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. It is a matter of satisfaction that the UN has finally agreed to list Azhar as a global terrorist," Modi said while addressing a gathring in Rajasthan's Jaipur. Taking a dig at the previous UPA regime, Modi said: There was a time when the country had a remote control government, in which even the voice of Prime Minister was not heard. Today, the country has witnessed what happened in the UN. How the voice of 130 crore people has been roaring all over the world." The prime minister said it's just the begining and there's more to come. "India's voice is now being heard globally and its views cannot be ignored any longer, it has now been proved. This is just the beginning. Just wait for what happens next," Modi said. In a huge diplomatic victory for India, the UN Sanctions Committee on Wednesday designated Azhar as global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to ban him. In its reaction, the External Affairs Ministry said Azhar's designation as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction and that India will continue its efforts to bring terror groups and their leaders to justice. "The 1267 Sanctions Committee's decision to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community's resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. We welcome the decision," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. France, the UK and the US had moved a fresh proposal to declare Azhar as global terrorist by the UN in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in February in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack. However, China put a technical hold on the proposal, blocking it for fourth time to designate Azhar. The Chinese move was termed "disappointing" by India. On Wednesday, China lifted its hold from the proposal.