China blocks bid to blacklist JeM chief Masood Azhar at UN

UNITED NATIONS: China on Wednesday put on hold a request by Britain, France and the United States to add the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar to the UN terror blacklist, diplomats said.

It was the fourth time that the UN Security Council was considering a request to put Masood Azhar on the UN sanctions blacklist, which would subject him to a global travel ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo.

Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the Feb.14 attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops and which was condemned by the Security Council.

In a note, China said it needed more time to examine the sanctions request targeting Azhar and asked for a technical hold which could last up to nine months, diplomats said.

"It appears as though the Chinese have been protecting Pakistan's priorities on counter-terrorism in the committee and so they are Pakistan's protector," said a Security Council diplomat, who asked not to be named.

China has blocked three previous attempts at the committee on sanctions against Al Qaeda and Daesh-linked groups to blacklist the JeM leader. The group itself was added to the terror list in 2001.

The United States, France and Britain are "actively considering" a new attempt, this time with a draft Security Council resolution that would designate Azhar as a terrorist, the diplomat added.

"The case is compelling to list Azhar," said the diplomat. "Certain countries are not going to stand for this. This is the fourth time now."

China defended its decision by saying it was upholding a "responsible attitude" and seeking to deal "with this issue with relevant parties via thorough consultation," said the Chinese mission to the United Nations.

"China believes that only a plan adopted by all can offer a long-term solution," said the mission, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

Agence France-Presse