The United Nations (UN) on May 1, 2019, designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him under the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee.
The new designation entails that Azhar will be subject to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. Many, however, pointed out that one, the JeM was already designated a terror outfit. And two, Hafiz Saeed was designated a global terrorist back in 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks.
Diplomatic win for India. Masood Azhar designated a global terrorist but lets remember, Jaish was already designated. So too was Hafiz Saeed, after the Mumbai attacks, but the LeT's infrastructure intacts ince then
— Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) May 1, 2019
India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin tweeted, “Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.”
Big,small, all join together.
Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list
Grateful to all for their support. 🙏🏽#Zerotolerance4Terrorism
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) May 1, 2019
Hafiz Saeed, who was also listed under the UNSC 1267 sanctions committee, continues to move around freely in Pakistan, as per reports.
The UPA Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh got the UN to declare Saeed as a global terrorist within 14 days of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
Congress-UPA Government under Dr Manmohan Singh got UN (China included) to agree to declare Hafiz Saeed as a global terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of UN, within 14 DAYS of the Mumbai Terror Attack ! #MasoodAzhar
— Rachit Seth🇮🇳 (@rachitseth) May 1, 2019
On Wednesday China removed its hold on the proposal to blacklist Azhar. France, UK and the US had earlier already agreed on the move in the Security Council’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. The move comes in the aftermath of Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM carrying out a terrorist attack against a convoy of vehicles transporting Indian security forces in Pulwama on 14 February. More than forty CRPF personnel were killed by the suicide bomber.
(With PTI inputs)