UNSC members may take ‘other actions’ on Azhar

WASHINGTON: Responsible member-states of the Security Council may be forced to take “other actions” if China continues to block moves to designate Pakistan-based JEM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, diplomats at the UN’S principal organ have warned.

The senior diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to give a sense of the frustration of the other members of the Security Council after China on Wednesday put a technical hold on the proposal to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. China has blocked four bids in 10 years to get Azhar, a blue-eyed boy of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, listed as a Un-designated global terrorist.

Azhar masterminded many audacious attacks on India, including the 2001 Parliament strike and the recent Pulwama carnage in February that pushed both India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

“If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn’t have to come to that,” a Security Council diplomat told PTI in an unusual tough warning to China, a close ally of Pakistan.

India has expressed disappointment over China’s decision but said it will “pursue all available avenues” to bring to justice terrorist leaders involved in attack on Indians.

“This is the fourth time that China has placed a hold on this listing. China should not prevent the Committee from doing the job t he Securi t y Council has entrusted it to do,” another Security Council diplomat told PTI.

The second diplomat also slammed Pakistan for depending on China to protect terrorist groups and leaders that operate from its soil. “Pakistan has quite often depended on China to protect it from the listing of Pakistanbased terrorist groups and individuals in the UN 1267 sanctions committee,” the diplomat noted.

“The case for designating Masood Azhar is undeniable,” the diplomat said.