UN ban on Azhar: China pushes for ‘Responsible solutions’ through talks

New Delhi: While there has been a rising demand to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United National Security Council (UNSC), China on Monday said that it has adopted a “responsible attitude” and followed the “rules and procedures” of the UNSC Resolution 1267 sanctions committee.

Beijing also said that security issues constituted an “important topic” in its talks to ease escalating tension between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack.

The US, UK and France had moved a proposal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after the deadly Pulwama attacks to designate the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief as a global terrorist. It is important to note here that JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack which killed above 40 CRPF personnel.

China’s stand on the whole issue was asked to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang. He said, “On China’s position on the designation of terrorist by 1267 committee that is consistent and clear, the country has adopted a responsible attitude, followed rules and procedures of this committee and participated in these discussions in a responsible manner.”

“Only through responsible discussions can we come to a responsible solution,” Kang added.

For the last 10 years, China has single-handedly blocked the listing of Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” at the UNSC Resolution 1267 sanctions committee. Three attempts in the last decade – 2009, 2016 and 2017 – have been blocked by Beijing at Islamabad’s behest.

India has been reaching out to UNSC members before the March 13 deadline to discuss any objections.

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