How is the US move different this time?

Act cautiously, China warns US

NEW DELHI: The US on Thursday moved a draft resolution in the UN Security Council to blacklist Pakistan-based terror group's chief Masood Azhar .The US move, supported by France and the UK , may put China in a tight spot.China has, on several occasions in the past, blocked the move to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee .Earlier this month, the US, France and Britain had co-sponsored a resolution to list Azhar as a terrorist by the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee. While 14 members of the 1267 Sanctions Committee supported the resolution to ban Azhar, “one country," later identified as China, put a "technical" hold on the proposal.It is in this light that the latest US move could be significant.Reacting strongly to the US move, China accused Washington of undermining the authority of the UN anti-terrorism committee.Instead of going through the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee, as was done previously, the US, this time, directly filed the draft resolution to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammad Masood Azhar with the council.The move by the US could mean China having to explain its block in public, instead of silently using its veto power.Unlike a listing proposal, which is generally under a 10-day no-objection period, the draft resolution is not under any no-objection provision. Sources said that the draft resolution will be discussed informally and then it goes to the Council.However, it's not yet decided by when a vote would be held on the draft resolution, during which it could again face a veto by China.According to sources, China has the option of lifting the "technical" hold but if it doesn't, it might have to explain publicly for the first time the rationale behind its support to the leader of the UN-designated terrorist group.Asked about today's development, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing that Washington move only complicates the issue. "This is not in line with resolution of the issue through dialogue and negotiations. This has reduced the authority of the Committee as a main anti-terrorism body of the UNSC and this is not conducive to the solidarity and only complicates the issue."We urge the US to act cautiously and avoid forcefully moving forward this resolution draft," Geng said.The Sanctions Committee makes its decisions by consensus of its members. However, for a resolution in the Security Council to pass, it needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes from any of its five permanent members - China, Russia, the United States, France and the UK.Meanwhile, reacting to the development, India has said that it is aware that a draft has been initiated for consideration of the Council members to list Masood Azhar in the sanctions regime as part of international community's efforts to fight against terrorism, according to the sources.India added that it will not be appropriate for it to comment at this stage on a process which is entirely within the parameters of informal discussion of the Council and its members, the sources said.