Masood Azhar ‘global terrorist’: France welcomes designation, says decision ‘signals successful realisation of efforts’

The statement by France came after 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.

NEW DELHI: 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. On this major diplomatic win for India, France said that it welcomes the today, by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee, of Mr Masood Azhar on the UN’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. France, in a statement, said, “For many years now, French diplomacy has been relentlessly pleading for sanctioning Mr Azhar, head of the terrorist group responsible, notably, for the Pulwama attack last February.

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

“In application of its Monetary and Financial Code, France had adopted national sanctions against Masood Azhar on 15th March” the statement by Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France further added. France also said that the decision taken at the United Nations Security Council signals the successful realisation of their efforts and they remain mobilised at all levels and all fora to take effective measures against terrorism. After the Pulwama attack in India, a fresh proposal to designate - Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US. However, China blocked the bid by putting a "technical hold" on the proposal. Following this, the US backed by the UK and France moved directly to UN Security Council (UNSC) to blacklist Azhar. Maoos Azhar, a Pakistani national, founded the JeM with the help of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI in January 2000, soon after his release from an Indian jail in exchange for 166 hostages of an Indian Airlines plane which was hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan during a flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi.