India slams China without taking its name in UN; says Beijing protects Masood Azhar due to narrow political concerns

Washington, December 21: India on Wednesday slammed China without taking its name which is protecting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar by preventing the Security Council from sanctioning him as an international terrorist because of its narrow political and strategic concerns.

 

Notably, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin while addressing the Security Council said, "On counter-terrorism, cooperation continues to elude the Council, as it falls victim to narrow political and strategic concerns." "On an issue as serious as a designation of terrorist individuals and entities, the Council-mandated Sanctions Committees fail to make concrete progress, thus putting our common security in peril," he added.

Further speaking at the debate on "Complex Contemporary Challenges to International Peace and Security," Syed Akbaruddin said terrorism is a common challenge which requires greater focus by this Council, one where closer international cooperation needs to be, can be and should be expanded for common interest. "But, it appears that this common threat and its seriousness to states and societies are not clearly understood here," he added.

Akbaruddin asserted that the threats to international peace are intensified by the globalization of terror networks, which operate across borders propagating hateful ideologies, sometimes based in deep-rooted perceived grievances, raising finances, getting arms and recruiting operatives.

India's Permanent Representative at UN Security Council also questioned the very legitimacy of Council and its credibility in dealing with today's complex challenges. "An instrument that is no longer considered legitimate and has lost its credibility cannot be our hope for salvation," he concluded.

Importantly, China in the last month blocked a move by Britain, France and the US to list Azhar as a global terrorist by using its veto power. Azhar is the mastermind of last year's attack on the Pathankot air force base.