Pulwama Attack: France to move proposal at UN to put JeM chief Masood Azhar on global terrorist list

On both the previous occasions, China, which is a veto-wielding member of the UNSC and a close ally of Pakistan, had used its powers to restrict the moves by putting technical holds.

France to move proposal to designate Masood Azhar as global terrorist

New Delhi: France will "soon" be moving a proposal at the United Nations, to put Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar, on global terrorist list, agencies said citing French diplomatic sources. The country will move the proposal in a “couple of days” at the UN, said PTI. This will be the third attempt to enlist Masood as a terrorist at the UN Security Council. The move comes in the wake of the ghastly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama by JeM terrorists, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. On the previous occasions, first India, and later the US, the UK and France, had moved proposals to designate Azhar as a global terrorist at the UNSC. However, on both the occasions, China, which is a veto-wielding member of the UNSC and a close ally of Pakistan, had used its powers to restrict the moves by putting technical holds. This time too China has said no to backing India's bid to list JeM chief Azhar as global terrorist. On the day of attack, China had expressed deep "shock" over the attack, but once again declined to back India's appeal to list the Pakistan-based terror group's chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang told a media briefing: “We firmly oppose and strongly condemn all forms of terrorism. We hope relevant regional countries will cooperate to cope with the threat of terrorism and jointly uphold regional peace and stability.” When asked about China's stand on the listing of Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council, he said: "As for the issue of listing, I could tell you that the 1267 Committee of Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of the terrorist organisations". "JeM has been included in the Security Council terrorism sanctions list. China will continue to handle the relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner," Geng said in an apparent reference to External Affairs Ministry's appeal to all members of the UN Security Council to list Azhar as a global terrorist. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.