Major diplomatic victory for India: Masood Azhar designated as global terrorist by UNSC

UNSC permanent member China on Tuesday said that the vexed issue of designating Azhar 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 claimed responsibility for the deadly Pulwama terror attack. The proposal was the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist.

Indian Muslims hold a scratched photo of Jaish-e-Mohammad group chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, as they shout slogans against Pakistan during a protest in Mumbai on February 15, 2019, the day after an attack on a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in the Lethpora area of Kashmir. FILE PIC/AFP.

United Nations: In a major diplomatic victory for India, Masood Azhar was designated global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday. The decision to list him as a global terrorist was taken in the world body's sanctions committee that held a crucial meeting today in which China lifted its hold on the proposal to blacklist him. A UNSC designation will now subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. At a public rally in Jaipur PM Narendra Modi said "UNSC has listed JeM's Masood Azhar as a Global Terrorist. In our fight against terrorism, it is a big victory" Also, calling it a big diplomatic victory, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said "Pakistan now stands exposed". "Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief #MasoodAzhar declared as global terrorist by UNSC. A big diplomatic victory for India under the leadership of PM @narendramodi in the fight against terrorism. Now Pakistan stands completely exposed. @BJP4India," Javadekar tweeted. ALSO READ: Masood Azhar: What happens to Jaish chief after getting designated as global terrorist? BJP leader Prem Shukla said Pakistan needs to take a lesson and behave. "China has withdrawn its support to Pakistan. It should now mend its ways or the country itself will be blacklisted globally." Speaking to ABP News on the development, Tariq Peerzada, a foreign affairs expert in Islamabad said," Masood Azhar is already in jail, so India should stop making a fool of itself at the world level." UNSC permanent member China on Tuesday said that the vexed issue of designating Azhar 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 claimed responsibility for the deadly Pulwama terror attack. 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 had moved a proposal by itself to designate Azhar.

Big,small, all join together.

Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list Grateful to all for their support. ????????#Zerotolerance4Terrorism — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) May 1, 2019

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 organisation's head under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. Though China could have exercised its veto power as a permanent member of the UNSC, Beijing had staunchly opposed the issue to be taken to the apex UN body as it had to publicly explain its stand on its reservations to list Azhar, whose group JeM has already been designated as terror outfit by UN, before exercising its veto.

France statement: We welcome the designation today, by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee, of Masood Azhar on the UN’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. (ANI)

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 1, 2019

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. ALSO READ: Masood Azhar listed as global terrorist by UN: Know all about Jaish-e-Mohammed chief The travel ban entails preventing the entry into or transit by 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 meeting Premier Li Keqiang and Vice President Wang Qishan during which India-Pakistan tension following the Pulwama terror attack as well as listing of Azhar reportedly figured. An official statement of China issued after Xi-Khan meeting on Sunday said the Chinese President had expressed hope that Pakistan and India can meet each other halfway and improve their relations. (With additional information from PTI)