USA NOT GIVING UP ON MASOOD AZHAR TERROR DESIGNATION
WASHINGTON: If India won’t give up trying to push the UN to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-mohammed chief Masood Azhar a terrorist, so will not the United States, which has said it will continue to work for the designation and urge others to pursue it as well.
It was a proposal by the US, backed by France and Britain, to name Azhar a Un-designated terrorist that China blocked last week in a cynical show of solidarity with Pakistan, its “iron brother” ally. Beijing cited lack of consensus caused by its own refusal to support the move.
“We would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e-mohammed’s founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well,” a US state department spokesperson told Hindustan Times on background.
The spokesperson refused to comment on China blocking the US proposal, saying, “Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the…sanctions list are confidential to the committee. As a result, we do not comment on internal committee deliberations.”
The spokesperson added, “I would therefore refer you to the Chinese government to explain their position.”
China had said there were disagreements on the proscription of Azhar. “China raised the technical hold so as to allow for more time for all parties to deliberate on this matter. To our regret the committee so far has yet to reach a consensus,” it said.
The committee created by the UN Security Council comprises 15 member nations who must all vote unanimously to approve any proposal to expand or shrink the sanctioned list that has 256 individuals and 80 entities. Even one no-vote from any member is sufficient to deny a decision.
China has been the sole dissenter to the two proposals moved thus far. First by India, in February 2016, which was backed by the US, France, Britain and the rest of the committee, excluding China. The second proposal was from the US in the dying days of the Obama administration in January this year.