China on Monday said “positive progress” had been made in discussions on designating Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” by the United Nations (UN), but did not give details.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also said in Beijing that the US was aware of this forward movement but had gone ahead and submitted a proposal in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to get Azhar listed as a terrorist. The move would subject him to a travel ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo.
This, Geng said, had set a “bad example”, according to a PTI report from Beijing.
“After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well,” Geng said. The 1267 committee has sanctioned groups such as the Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the past and examines penalties to be imposed on groups associated with the them.
Officials in New Delhi did not immediately respond to queries about whether there had been any discussions between India and China on the matter or on the progress reported by Geng. In the past, a person familiar with the developments said, India was willing to show “patience as long as it takes” with China on the matter of listing Azhar as a terrorist but New Delhi would not make any compromises or deals on the matter.
When asked to clarify whether the progress he meant was to resolve the issue of listing Azhar, Geng said, “Yes. The US knows that very well.”
“We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and sets a bad example,” Geng said, according to the PTI report.
“We hope various parties will meet each other halfway and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US-proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework,” Geng said.
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