In the latest twist of events, China may be supporting the tagging of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. China has softened its position on listing of Maulana Masood Azhar at the UNSC 1267 Committee. China MoFA says, ’China supports the issue of listing, which should be resolved through political consultations within the framework of 1267’. Though China has used its veto power in UNSC, whenever India has pushed to tag Masood as a global terrorist but this time China is facing flak on a wider scale. Especially, the other three permanent members viz. US, U.K, and France were quite critical about Chinese behavior on this issue. Even bitter war of word escalated between the US and China with former accusing the latter of targeting Uighur Muslims whereas shielding the real terrorists.

 

  

China said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be “properly resolved” but it did not give any timeline, days after Chinese president Xi Jinping met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan here.

 

 

In the aftermath of Pulwama attack, in which more than 40 brave CRPF soldiers were martyred, the three permanent members i.e. the US, U.K, and France of UNSC moved a fresh proposal to designate Azhar, under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, as a global terrorist. But the all-weather friend of Pakistan, China blocked the bid by putting a technical hold on the proposal. Subsequently, US-backed by UK and France moved directly to UN Security Council (UNSC) to blacklist Azhar.

 

 

Though China opposed this move yet it would have been a big embarrassment for China, if the latest process of tagging of Azhar moves. This will also have global repercussion. Hence, China has indicated that it will respond positively. On April 1 and 3 China claimed that positive progress has been made to resolve the issue of Masood Azhar. The US, the UK, and France this time stepped up pressure on Beijing by taking the issue directly to the powerful UN Security Council (UNSC).