China again blocks India's bid in UN to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar

New York: China on Saturday extended its veto on India's move in the United Nations to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. With this, China for the second time has prevented India's effort after on March 31 this year, it put on hold the ban sought by India and blocked New Delhi's move to put a ban on the JeM leader and the Pathankot attack mastermind under the sanctions committee of the council. The Chinese technical hold was set to lapse on Monday, and had China not raised further objection, the resolution designating Azhar as a terrorist could stand passed automatically. The hold has been extended for another six months. Beijing had three options, which included extending the technical hold, converting the hold to a block and allow the designation to go through. It decided to pursue the first option which is procedural in nature and delays substantive decision by a few more months. After its March 31 decision, China's Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi had said that Azhar does not qualify as a terrorist who would have to face UN sanctions. China was the only member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.