No solid evidence to ban Masood Azhar: China

Beijing says New Delhi is not providing any ‘solid evidence’

Beijing cannot support sanctions against Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar because New Delhi is not providing any ‘solid evidence’, China said on Friday ahead of next week’s strategic dialogue between the two countries.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the country’s stance to block India’s move to ban Azhar under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 is based on impartiality and the ‘merits of the case’, according to a report by Press Trust of India.



“China upholds the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism and takes part in relevant discussions. Whether last year’s application by India (against Azhar) or this year’s by relevant country, our position is consistent,” Geng said. “Our criteria is only one item – we need solid evidence. If there is solid evidence, the application can be moved. If there is no solid evidence, there is hardly a consensus.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2017.