China hints at blocking India's request to blacklist JeM chief

India has been trying to get Masood Azhar on a UN list of groups with ties to al Qaeda

BEIJING: China on Monday signalled it would again block an Indian request at the United Nations to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.

India, backed by the United States, has been trying to get Maulana Masood Azhar on a UN list of groups with ties to al Qaeda, blaming his group for a series of attacks in India, including one on its parliament in 2002 and another last year on an airbase.

But China, a member of the UN Security Council, has repeatedly put a technical hold on the Indian request, the latest of which is due to end this week.

Such decisions must be based on cast-iron evidence and fully backed by members of the UN panel charged with implementing resolutions relating to sanctions on militant groups and individuals, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

“China proposed a technical hold, the aim of which was to give more time for the committee members to discuss it and for relevant parties to have further consultations,” Hua told a daily news briefing. “But regrettably, the committee has yet to reach consensus.”

Beijing had last year blocked New Delhi’s request to add the JeM chief to a UNSC blacklist of groups linked to al Qaeda. JeM has already been blacklisted by the 15-nation Security Council, but not Azhar, a hardliner and long-time foe of India.

Hua said there were clear rules for listing a person or group as a terrorist, and that China has always believed the relevant UN committee should operate on the principles of objectivity, fairness and professionalism on this matter.