India takes up issue of China’s veto on Jaish chief

BLOCKADE China put the move on ‘technical hold’ through an 11th-hour intervention

NEW DELHI: China’s blocking of Indian efforts to list Jaishe- Mohammed ( JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist at the UN sanctions committee was taken up at a “fairly high level” with the neighbour, foreign secretary S Jaishankar said on Wednesday, adding he wouldn’t give the impression that Beijing’s action would overflow into other areas of bilateral ties.

China came in the way of Indian efforts last week to designate as a terrorist the JeM chief who India blamed for the Pathankot attack, putting the move on “technical hold” through an eleventh hour intervention.

It was the second time China scuppered Indian plans to designate Azhar as a terrorist at the UN.

“We have taken it up at a fairly high level and we will continue to pursue this with the Chinese. This is an issue to be pursued with the Chinese in a UN context,” Jaishankar said at a function to launch the Indian chapter of an American think tank.

The committee’s decision has to be unanimous. Once listed by the committee, entities and individuals face an asset freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo — actions that would cripple their ability to conduct terrorist activities.

However, it was not disclosed at what level India took up the issue with China.

Asked whether India would pursue a carrot and stick policy in the context of Beijing’s blocking of the move, the foreign secretary said “in diplomacy you don’t speak of car rots and sticks. It’s undiplomatic”.

“...I wouldn’t like to give the impression that somehow this is going to overflow into other areas. We had a backing and forthing with them on this issue and we have to wait and see where it goes,” Jaishankar said.

IT WAS THE SECOND TIME CHINA SCUPPERED INDIAN PLANS TO DESIGNATE AZHAR AS A TERRORIST AT THE UN