India takes up Masood row with Beijing

“We have been informed of this development and the matter has been taken up with the Chinese government,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He was asked about India’s reaction to US pushing for a ban on Azhar in the UN and China yet again blocking it. However, he did not elaborate when and where the issue was taken up with China. 

According to senior government sources, the US, supported by the UK and France, moved a proposal at the UN’s Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of last month to proscribe Azhar. The proposal, which was finalised after ‘consultations’ between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources said. 

“However, China opposed the US move by putting a hold on the proposal,” a source said, adding the Chinese action came just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold. The American proposal came barely weeks after India’s efforts to get Azhar banned by the UN were blocked by China in December last. 

The “hold” remains for six months and can be further extended by three months. During this period, it can be anytime converted into a “block”, thereby, ending the life of the proposal. Meanwhile, a special court of the National Investigation Agency issues proclamation order against Pak-based terror outfit JeM’s chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others. This would mean that Azhar is a proclaimed offender which makes it easier for the NIA to seek his custody.