ISLAMABAD In a significant development, Jaish-e-Muhmamad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar was designated as a global terrorist under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1267.
Azhar was blacklisted by UNSC sanctions committee after Pakistan and China dropped their objections to the latest proposal put forward by the US, UK and France to designate Masood as terrorist.
Since 2008, the US attempted four times to list Azhar under the UNSC resolution 1267 but every time its move was thwarted by China.
The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Daish), al Qaeda, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Daish) and al Qaeda Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the UNSC said in a statement following the decision.
Meanwhile, addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal confirmed the development, saying the UNSC decision entails three steps i.e. assets freeze, arms embargo and travel restrictions.
Pakistan rejected earlier proposals to list the JeM chief as they lacked technical criteria and were aimed at maligning Pakistan and hindering the movement in Pakistan controlled Kashmir, said Dr Faisal and added that the proposals had a political agenda.
He further said India is presenting todays development as its victory and confirmation of its narrative, but these claims are unfounded and false. He said recent proposals to list Azhar were motivated by Pulwama attack and aimed at undermining the legitimate freedom movement in Kashmir.
Once politically motivated attempts to link it with the Pulwama incident and the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for the realisation of the right to self-determination were removed, the current amended listing proposal was approved, he added.
The spokesperson also reaffirmed Pakistans resolve to counter terrorism and underscored that no country in the world can match Pakistans efforts, achievements and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Pakistan maintains that terrorism is a menace to the world. This includes the Indian state sponsored terrorism against innocent Kashmiris in (Jammu and Kashmir), including the inhuman use of pellet guns and human shields, which find no parallel in the civilized world. Indian occupation forces continue to massacre Kashmiris, enjoying judicial immunity with impunity through draconian laws. We will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to our Kashmiri brethren.
Big Victory: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the United Nations’ decision to list Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was a “big victory” in the fight against terror, and claimed that it will serve as the first step in his government’s plan to bring the curtains down on those targeting India.
“From now on, whenever the country faces danger of any kind from anybody, we will enter their homes and eliminate them. If they fire bullets at us, we will fire bombs at them,” he said at an election rally in Rajasthan’s Jaipur.
The world has begun listening to India over the last few years. We cannot be ignored anymore. And I would like to say openly that this is just the start. Just wait and see what happens next,” PM Modi said, even as the crowds cheered.
He thanked the international community — especially nations such as France, United States and the United Kingdom — for backing India in its efforts to bring down Masood Azhar. “The international community has stood by India in its efforts to fight terror, and this is why I would like to extend my gratitude to them on the behalf of 130 crore Indians.”
The Prime Minister claimed that a small section of people in Pakistan have lately begun speaking out against their government’s terror-friendly policies. “However, here in India, some people were very happily mocking us while we were working towards this day. But I want to tell them today that this is not just Modi’s success — it’s the success of the entire country and its 130 crore people,” he said, adding that today should be a “day of pride” for every Indian regardless of ideology.
The reference, obviously, was to his detractors in the opposition.
Meanwhile, the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist created a flurry on Twitter, with BJP leaders crediting the “great victory” to PM Modi and those in the opposition preferring to praise the diplomats involved.
Pak Ready To Enforce Sanctions
Pakistan on Wednesday said it would “immediately enforce the sanctions” imposed by the UN on JeM chief Masood Azhar and said it agreed to his listing after all “political references including attempts to link him to the Pulwama attack were removed from the proposal.
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