Need more time to assess to list Pak-based JeM leader Abdul Rauf Azhar as global terrorist: China on India-US proposal at UNSC

New Delhi, Aug 12: After blocking, China which is a close ally of Pakistan, said that "it needs more time to assess" the India-US proposal to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Abdul Rauf Azhar as a United Nations designated international terrorist.

 

Earlier, China put a hold on a proposal to designate Azhar, the brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a global terrorist and subject him to assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

 

Speaking on the same decision during a briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "We need more time to assess the application to schedule this individual. We hope relevant media will refrain from making groundless speculation."

 

 

Further, he said, "1267 Committee of the UN Security Council has clear guidelines regarding the designation of terrorist organizations and individuals and related procedures. China always takes part in the work of the committee in a constructive and responsible manner in strict accordance with these rules and procedures. We hope other members will do the same."

 

This is the second time in less than two months that China has put a hold on a listing by the US and India to sanction a Pakistan-based terrorist under the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council. In June this year, China had put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. China had similarly sought time to assess the case.