No change in stance on Masood Azhar at Security Council: China
China on Thursday signalled it will continue to block a US-backedresolutiontosanction Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar at the UN Security Council,sayingthereis“absence of consensus” among member countriestodeclarehimaninternational terrorist.
“It is a fact that the committee is yet to reach agreement (on the move),”theforeignministrysaid. On Monday, the ministry had cited lack of “solid proof” against Azhar, accused by India of masterminding the terror attack on the Pathankotairbase in 2016, as thereasonforitsstubborninsistence on blocking the move.
There was more of the same when the issue was raised at the regular foreign ministry news briefing on Thursday.
“We raised atechnical hold so astoallowtheUNSecurityCouncilcommitteeandallmembersto deliberate on this matter. But thereisstillanabsenceofconsensus (among the member countries),” spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
“The 1267 Committee (which imposessanctionsonterrororganisations) has its rules of procedureandithasyettoreachaconsensus, there are still disagreements,” she said.
Hua added, “China’s actions aremeanttoensurethatwesafeguardtheauthorityandeffectivenessofthiscommitteeandwewill continuetofollowthemandateof thecommitteeandrulesofprocedureandremaininconstantcommunication and coordination will all members of the committee.”
Indian officials believe that Chinaisactingatthebehestofits close ally Pakistan.
TheJaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chiefoperatesfreelywithinPakistan and the group is believed to have close ties to the Pakistani security establishment.
On Monday, Hua had said, “The relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council have clear stipulations as to the mandate of the 1267 Committee and clear stipulationswhenitcomestothe listing of relevant organisations and individuals.”
China’s reluctance to act againstAzharcomesweeksafter Brics (Brazil, Russian, Inia, ChinaandSouthAfrica)member countries — ratherunexpectedly — named Pakistan-based JeM andLashkar-e-Taibaamongterror groups causing violence and security concerns, bracketing them with the Islamic State (IS).
Beijing’s decision to block the move could be seen as a turnaroundafterbeingpartoftheXiamen Declaration, released after the Brics summit last month.
The declaration was the first time that anti-India groups such as the LeT and JeM were compared to the Islamic State by the grouping.
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