China is once again under pressure on the issue of designating the Jaish e Mohammad chief Mazood Azhar a terrorist, but in a watered down version, at the UN Security Council.
The US, undeterred by China’s veto against the move a few days back, has with the cooperation of Britain and France moved a resolution against Azhar but not under the 1267 sanctions committee. The resolution introduced by the US, if voted through with China’s cooperation, will be at most a moral victory for India and the countries backing it.
But designating Azhar a terrorist under 1267 would have resulted in worldwide restrictions on his movements and activities. He would have faced a travel ban, arms embargo and funds freeze, among other things. The al-Qaeda, for example, is designated a terrorist organisation under the 1267 sanctions committee of the UNSC. The latest US resolution is the fourth time in the last decade that the UNSC is taking up the issue of blacklisting Azhar a terrorist.
The latest moves follow the February 14 suicide attack on Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama that killed at least 40. The JeM claimed responsibility for the attack.
Despite China and India having sizeable trade relations and a friendly relationship, Beijing has never obliged Delhi on this issue. Each time the resolution is put forward at the UNSC, China comes up with a technical reason not to vote for it.
Reports quoting the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China had conducted a “comprehensive and thorough evaluation” but still needed more time to consider the proposal.
China’s reluctance is interpreted as a reflection of its historical closeness to Pakistan and is an attempt to indicate to Islamabad that it is unwavering in its commitment to that relationship.
The Trump administration as also the French and British governments have moved closer to India in recent years and the US resolution backing Indian sentiments is a confirmation of this.
News agencies quoted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as tweeting that “The world cannot afford China’s shameful hypocrisy toward Muslims. On one hand, China abuses more than a million Muslims at home, but on the other it protects violent Islamic terrorist groups from sanctions at the UN.”
While the Indian government and the sponsors of the UN resolution hope that China will change its mind and allow Azhar’s designation a terrorist, nothing exceptional has occurred in recent days that indicate this will happen. Unless there has been a back channel agreement with China, especially since the resolution this time may not carry any punitive consequences for Azhar.