Image Source : Masood Azhar

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has finally been designated as a global terrorist in the United Nations sanctions list -- after China lifted technical hold.

Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations apprised the nation of the development on Wednesday evening. He tweeted: Big,small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list Grateful to all for their support. #Zerotolerance4Terrorism"

Big,small, all join together.



Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list



Grateful to all for their support. 🙏🏽#Zerotolerance4Terrorism — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) May 1, 2019

To this end, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Jaipur, said, "Der aaye durust aaye!"

India had been relentless in its global diplomatic efforts to lobby the UN Security Council against Masood Azhar. However, China proved to be an obstacle in the path to designate him a global terrorist.

China, an ally of Pakistan, is a Veto-possessing permanent member of the UNSC. This means that for any resolution to pass in UNSC, China will always have to consent along with other Veto-possessing members namely, USA, UK, France and Russia. China -- till today -- chose to act in a way that benefitted or at least aided Pakistan's interests.

China had put a 'technical hold' on a proposal to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist by the UN; while other four Veto-possessing nations were supportive of India's stand.

France, one of the 'Veto-powers', moved a resolution, following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, against Azhar in February. JeM had claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that killed over 40 CRPF troopers.

China then had said it needed more time to “study” the matter. It, however, also added it was “sincere” about building better ties with India.

But, on Tuesday, China said that the vexed issue of designating the Pakistan-based Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be “properly resolved”.

China reportedly insisted the issue be discussed in 1267 committee of the UN rather than in UNSC. Proceedings of 1267 committee are not made public.

In the resolution that declared Masood Azhar a global terrorist, the United Nations said he was associated with Al-Qaida and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The resolution said: "Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi was listed on 1 May 2019 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 (2017) as being associated with Al-Qaida for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of”, “supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material to”, “recruiting for”, “otherwise supporting acts or activities of”, and “other acts or activities indicating association with”: Jaish-i-Mohammed (QDe.019)."

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