China defends blocking ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar

Just hours after India made it clear that the issue of China continuing to put a technical hold on an Indian proposal for a UN ban on terror outfit JeM chief Masood Azhar “was not on the agenda” at the forthcoming Brics Summit in Goa on October 15 and 16 as it was a “bilateral” issue between the two sides, Beijing on Saturday defended its decision again.

India had earlier said that 14 out of the 15 members of the 1267 Committee (that comprises the 15 countries who are part of the UN Security Council) supported the ban while only one country (a veiled reference to China) was continuing to oppose it.

China had last week again placed a technical hold on the proposal at the UN, thereby signalling once again its strong friendship with Islamabad. This comes just days ahead of the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Brics Summit. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could take up the matter with the Chinese President during a possible bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Brics Summit. New Delhi is also expected to raise the issue of terrorism prominently which is on the agenda at the Summit.

China defended its second technical hold to prevent a UN ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar saying there were “different views” on India’s application and that Beijing’s move will allow more time for the “relevant parties” to have consultations.

According to news agency reports from Beijing, while reacting to India’s criticism that its second hold on attempts to ban Azhar sends a dangerous message, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the listing application member states submitted to the 1267 Committee of UN “must comply” with specific requirements of relevant resolutions of UN Security Council (UNSC).

Though China is the lone member among the 15-member UNSC to oppose the ban on Azhar, Beijing claims that “different views” existed about India’s application against Azhar.

“There are still different views on India’s listing application made this March. The technical hold on it will allow more time for the Committee to deliberate on the matter and for relevant parties to have further consultations,” the ministry said in a written reply to news agency PTI in Beijing to a question seeking its response to India’s strong criticism.

The reference to “further consultations” apparently referred to direct consultations between India and Pakistan over the issue. China had put the first technical hold six months ago on India’s application following Azhar’s alleged involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack. China had extended the second technical hold valid for three months during this week despite several consultations between New Delhi and Beijing at various levels.

While opposing the ban against Azhar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry however said “China firmly supports combating all forms of terrorism, stronger international cooperation against terrorism, and supports the central and coordinating role of the UN in international counter-terrorism cooperation”. It said, China always maintains that on the listing matter, the 1267 Committee should stick to the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism, base its judgments on solid evidence and decide upon consensus among the members of the Security Council.