UN lists Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist

DHARAMSALA, 2 May: In a diplomatic victory for India, the UN (United Nations) has designated the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

The UN move comes after China dropped its objection to the listing. India hailed it as a diplomatic victory, the BBC reported.

“Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support,” Syed Akbaruddin, India’s ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted.

Following the UN move, the JeM Chief now stands to face an assets freeze and a travel ban.

While China has previously blocked the move to designate the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, JeM’s chief in 2009, 2016 and 2017 respectively, Beijing agreed to the proposal on Wednesday.

China initially put the proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of UNSC moved by France and backed by UK and US on ‘technical hold’.

Jaish-e-Mohammad literally means the Army of Mohammad. The group was declared a foreign terrorist organisation by the United Nations in October 2001,

The Pakistan-based terrorist organisation recently carried out the suicide bombing attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14 Feb that killed Indian 40 troops.

The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of UNSC was moved by France and backed by UK and US on February 27.

UNSC is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security; China, France, Russia, UK, and the US make up the five permanent members.

While any one of the council’s permanent members can veto a resolution; the council’s ten elected members, which serve two-year, non-consecutive terms, are not afforded veto power.

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