India is optimistic that China will have no objection to a fresh proposal to designate the head of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Masood Azhar the head of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The move which has been initiated by France, is being backed by the US and UK.

It was informed by the Senior Officials on Wednesday that the proposal moved jointly by the three permanent members of the Security Council. China is now in focus, after having blocked such a measure for almost a decade. However it is now expected of China that it will change its stance by casting a vote in favour of the members, they said.

Sushma Swaraj during the Russia-India-China meet had discussed the issue of Azhar’s listing following the Pulwama attack, with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. RIC meet took place in Zhejiang on February 27.

China, had called for de-escalation of tensions between the two sides, being moot on India’s air strikes against JeM camps on February 26. It had condemned the Pulwama attack on February 14. China’s current position is being read as implicit support for India in certain quarters.

It is comprehensible that Russia will back the proposal moved by the three veto-wielding members. Russia, from the very start has been supporting India’s counterterrorism actions and also the decision to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. India has been also successful in furnishing detailed evidence on the activities of the JeM and its chief to all UNSC members, including the non-permanent ones.