Daily Times

China on Wednesday once again put on hold a request by Britain, France and the United States to add to the UN terror blacklist the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), diplomats said.

It was the third time that the UN Security Council was considering a request to put Masood Azhar on the UN sanctions blacklist, which would subject him to a global travel ban and assets freeze.

JeM had reportedly claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack in Kashmir that killed at least 40 Indian troops.

China has twice blocked – in 2016 and 2017 – attempts to impose sanctions on the JeM leader. The group itself was added to the terror list in 2001.

In a note sent to the Security Council, China said it needs more time to examine the sanctions request targeting Masood Azhar, diplomats said.

India and Pakistan carried out air raids last month across the Line of Control (LoC) in clashes that sent tensions soaring between the nuclear-armed countries.

India on February 26 claimed staging an air raid on a camp inside Pakistan that it claimed belonged to JeM. One day later Pakistan downed two Indian fighter jets along the Line of Control (LoC). A pilot who was shot down over Pakistani territory was later sent back to India as a goodwill gesture.

Islamabad announced last week that more than 100 militants, including many from JeM, had been detained.

On Tuesday, China had said that ‘responsible and serious discussions’ were needed ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s sanctions committee meeting. During a weekly briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang responded to a question which asked what Beijing’s position would be at the meet after India on Saturday appealed that all permanent members of UNSC should declare Azhar a terrorist. “We already stressed China’s position on the listing of terrorist organisations and individuals in the UN Security Council 1267 Committee on many occasions. China has all along participated in relevant discussions in a responsible manner and in strict accordance with the rules of procedure and provisions of the 1267 committee. China will continue to communicate and work with relevant parties in a responsible manner so as to properly resolve this matter. Only by making a decision through responsible and serious discussions can we find a lasting solution,” he had said.

Published in Daily Times, March 14^th 2019.