China hints at blocking Masood Azhar's listing as global terrorist
Just hours before the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to take up a resolution to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, China hinted at blocking the move once again. Asserting it will adopt a "responsible attitude" in the matter, China on Wednesday pitched for a solution acceptable to all sides that could resolve the matter. Here's more.
China will adopt a responsible attitude: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
For listing Azhar, China's Foreign Ministry said, all rules and procedures laid down by the UN must be followed. The latest move to list Azhar comes after JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide car bomb attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama on 14 February. "China will adopt a responsible attitude and continue to participate in discussions," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Lu Kang, said.
If listed, Azhar will be subjected to global sanctions
The UN Security Council's 1267 Sanctions Committee closes on Wednesday the mandatory 10-day period for objections to a proposal for designating Azhar a global terrorist that was moved by France, the US, and the UK. Designation as a global terrorist by the UNSC will result in Azhar being subjected to global sanctions under which UN member countries cannot host, finance, or arm him.
Solution acceptable to all sides conducive for resolving the issue
"On this (listing of Azhar) issue, I want to say that China always adopts a responsible attitude, engage in consultation with various parties properly deal with this issue," Lu said. "The discussions, I want to say, must follow the rules and procedures and relevant bodies and only the solution that is acceptable to all sides is conducive for resolving the issue," he added.
United States and China share a mutual interest: Spokesperson
"The United States and China share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace, and that a failure to designate Azhar would run counter to this goal," said Robert Palladino, the US State Department's Deputy Spokesperson.
China has thrice blocked the move to list Azhar
The move to designate Azhar a terrorist by India and other UN members has been blocked thrice by China citing lack of evidence and consensus - which observers say is a result of China's close ties with Pakistan. On Tuesday, the US told China that failure to list Azhar would "run counter" to their shared goal of peace and stability in the region.
