Jaish chief Masood Azhar masterminded the 2016 Pathankot attack in which seven security personnel died

France has reiterated its support to India's pitch to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist, days after China blocked such a proposal at the United Nations. It added that there are "very strong arguments in favour" of designating Azhar as an international terrorist and said that it wants to see decisive action taken against terror groups targeting India."France has very firmly condemned the terror attacks against India, including the recent one in Uri, and reiterated its full solidarity with India in its combat against terrorism," said French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was on a four-day visit to India.19 soldiers were killed in an attack carried out by terrorists from Pakistan on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri on September 18.Stating that France is also a co-sponsor of the proposal to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, Mr Ayrault said, "We regret that despite our joint attempts and wide support from the (1267 Sanctions) Committee, unanimity could not be reached." He further stated that Azhar's outfit, the Jaish-e-Mohammad, is already included in the UN Sanctions Committees list of terror organisations.France, which has been a victim of several terror attacks in the recent years, also vociferously called for a "decisive action" against Pakistan-based terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen."We particularly want to see decisive action taken, in keeping with international law, against terrorist groups targeting India, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen," he said."France and India are both victims of terrorism, and they are in full solidarity vis-a-vis this scourge," Mr Ayrault said to news agency PTI.Masood Azhar's Jaish-e-Mohammad masterminded the Pathankot terror attack in January, 2016 - in which seven security personnel were killed - as well as other terror strikes in the country over the years. It was banned in 2001 by the UN for having links with the Al-Qaeda.

India's proposal to get the UN to designate Pakistan-based Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was opposed at the 15-member 1267 Sanctions Committee was vetoed only by China, which - like France - is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. China also opposes India's membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.