In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations on Wednesday, 1 May, designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him under the Security Council's Sanctions Committee.
Meanwhile, reacting to the listing by the UN, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted as saying that it will "immediately enforce UN sanctions" imposed on Azhar.
Moreover, China said it lifted its technical hold after it found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, UK and France following a careful study of the revised materials.
China had earlier blocked the listing of Azhar as a global terrorist four times.
Snapshot
- China had blocked Azhar’s listing in 2009, 2016, 2017 and 2019
- Azhar’s JeM claimed the terror attack on CRPF troops on 14 February in J&K’s Pulwama
- FM Arun Jaitley hailed the decision and said India stands vindicated
- UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo
11:58 AM, 02 May
BJP Trying to Gather Votes on Masood Azhar's Name: Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Thursday, 2 May, said that the party was trying to en-cash on Masood Azhar’s UN sanction.
“Earlier, the BJP government had made (Azhar) a guest and later freed him abroad... Now, at the time of elections, they are trying to gather votes on his name, it is condemnable,” she said, as per ANI.
10:51 AM, 02 May
Pak PM Saying Right Things, His Military Leadership Must Take Right Steps: US
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is saying right things and trying to make some changes in the country, but his military leadership too needs to take right decisions and right steps, the Trump Administration said on Wednesday, 1 May, hours after the UN Security Council designated Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
Nearly a year and half after President Donald Trump ordered cutting off security aids to Pakistan, a senior US administration official told reporters that the US is trying to change Pakistan's policy of supporting terrorist groups.
9:34 AM, 02 May
Azhar's Designation a Victory for American Diplomacy: US Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, hailed UN’s designation of Masood Azhar, as a terrorist, as a win for US diplomacy.
"Congrats to US Mission to the UN for their work in negotiating Azhar's UN designation as a terrorist. This long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia,” Pompeo said, as per ANI.
9:29 AM, 02 May
How Will Azhar Move Help When Pak PM is Modiji's Friend: Digvijaya
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday, 2 May, questioned the impact of the UN’s designation of Masood Azhar.
"How will listing (Masood Azhar as a global terrorist) help when the Pakistan Prime Minister is flaunting his friendship with Modiji. I would say, Dawood Ibrahim, Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed should be immediately handed over to India," Singh said in Bhopal, as per NDTV.
7:55 AM, 02 May
Pak Trying to Subvert Diplomatic Setback: MEA Sources
Commenting on the UNSC’s designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, sources within the MEA said that the objective – designation of – has been achieved.
“Pakistan is mischievously attempting to salvage something out of this huge diplomatic setback for them by diverting the narrative. The process of listing started in 2009. Since then, several efforts have been made to list Azhar. This was much before Pulwama terror attack took place,” the source said.
“Pulwama happened to be the latest act of terror but the designation was not based on a specific incident but on the basis of evidence shared with members of the 1267 Sanctions Committee linking Masood Azhar to terrorism. It is not supposed to be a bio-data of a terrorist that all acts of terror committed by him would be listed in the notification. However, all acts of terrorism, including Pulwama, were relevant to the lifting,” the source added.
11:10 PM, 01 May
Disappointed That Azhar’s Listing Doesn’t Mention Pulwama: Cong
The Congress welcomed the designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, but expressed disappointment that the listing "does not mention Pulwama and Jammu and Kashmir" while recounting his role in terror activities.
"We expected Modi government to act at a greater speed in pursuing declaration of Masood Azhar, but after agenda-less visit of PM Modi to China (Wuhan Summit) they did not push for this case with China in the entire period of 2018," Surjewala alleged.
"Several precious lives in terror attacks like Pulwama could have been avoided if Modi government had pushed international community, including China to agree, to declare Masood Azhar as international terrorist," he said.
9:01 PM, 01 May
Azhar's Listing is Step Towards Right Direction: MEA
The MEA following UN's sanction imposed on Masood Azhar said it is a step towards right direction.
"The 1267 Sanctions Committee’s decision to designate the leader of JeM, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. We welcome the decision," the statement read.
It further added that India will continue with its efforts through international forums to ensure that terrorist organizations and their leaders who cause harm to citizens are brought to justice.
8:47 PM, 01 May
'It is a Big Victory,' PM Modi Hails Azhar's Blacklisting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally in Jaipur said that in India's fight against terrorism, it is a big victory.
8:41 PM, 01 May
Grateful to PM Modi & His Diplomatic Efforts: Shah
Reacting to the UN's listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, BJP President Amit Shah in a tweet said he is "grateful" to PM Modi and his diplomatic efforts.
"That is why India needs a strong & decisive leader," he added.
8:28 PM, 01 May
Will Immediately Enforce UN Sanction on Azhar: Pakistan
Reacting to the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said that it will "immediately enforce UN sanctions" imposed on JeM chief Masood Azhar.
8:06 PM, 01 May
Found No Objection After Careful Revision: China on Azhad's Blacklisting
China, which lifted its technical hold on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, said that it took the decision after it found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, the UK and France following a careful study of the revised materials.
China always believes that the relevant work should be carried out in an objective, unbiased and professional manner and based on solid evidence and consensus among all parties, a press release issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
"On this listing issue, China has been communicating with relevant parties in a constructive and responsible fashion. Recently, relevant countries revised and re-submitted the materials for the listing proposal to the 1267 Committee. After careful study of the revised materials and taking into consideration the opinions of relevant parties concerned, China does not have objection to the listing proposal," he said.
7:54 PM, 01 May
Big Diplomatic Victory for India Under Modi: Javadekar
Union minister Prakash Javadekar reacted to Masood Azhar’s blacklisting and said it is a "big diplomatic victory" for India under Modi in the fight against terrorism and added that Pakistan now stands completely exposed.
7:49 PM, 01 May
Happy That Its Materialised: Former PM Manmohan Singh
Reacting to the UN's decision to declare Azhar as a global terrorist, former PM Manmohan Singh said that he is happy that the move has been "materialised."
7:43 PM, 01 May
What Does Blacklisting Masood Azhar Mean?
A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo.
An assets freeze under the Sanctions Committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The travel ban entails preventing the entry into or transit by all states through their territories by designated individuals.
Under the arms embargo, all states are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related material of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities.
7:32 PM, 01 May
India Stands Vindicated: Arun Jaitley
In a tweet, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "India stands vindicated. Masood Azar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands. This marks a high point for the Prime Minister’s foreign policy."
7:25 PM, 01 May
Azhar Moved to Safe House Post Balakot Attack: Reports
Quoting government sources, ANI report stated that the JeM Chief Masood Azhar was put under house arrest at Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, post Balakot Attack by the Indian Air Force in February.
The officials added that he has been recently shifted to a safe house in Islamabad.
7:19 PM, 01 May
Who Is Masood Azhar?
JeM Chief Masood Azhar, designated as a global terrorist by the UN, is the masterminded of several audacious attacks on India including the 2001 Parliament strike and the recent Pulwama carnage in February that pushed the two countries to the brink of war.
A known fugitive, 50-year-old Azhar, who formed the JeM in 2000, was branded the brain behind various suicide strikes in India and known to have fine tuned terror tactics which included survey of potential targets before carrying out the attack.
7:07 PM, 01 May
France Welcomes UN's Decision on Azhar
Reacting to the UN's decision to declare Azhar as a global terrorist, France said it welcomes the order as it has been "relentlessly pleading" for the sanctions.
"We welcome the designation today, by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee, of Masood Azhar on the UN’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List," the statement read.
"French diplomacy has been relentlessly pleading for sanctioning Azhar, head of the terrorist group responsible, notably, for the Pulwama attack last February. France had adopted national sanctions against Masood Azhar on 15th March," it added.
6:59 PM, 01 May
'Big,Small, All Join Together,' Indian Ambassador to UN Hails Decision
India’s Ambassador to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin hailed the decision and in a tweet said that he is grateful to all for the organisation’s support.
6:43 PM, 01 May
Masood Azhar Declared a Global Terrorist, China Pulls Oppostion
Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar was listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations on Wednesday, 1 May, after the UN’s Sanctions Committee held a meeting amid indications that China could lift its hold on the proposal to blacklist Azhar.
This comes a day after Beijing said that the vexed issue of designating Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be “properly resolved.”