Washington D.C. [USA], May 2 (ANI): US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Thursday greeted the "long overdue" designation of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.

"Good to see the UN designate JeM leader Azhar yesterday, which was long overdue," Bolton took to Twitter to say.

In a huge diplomatic victory for India, the United Nations on Wednesday designated Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its technical hold on a proposal to blacklist the JeM chief, a decade after New Delhi approached the world body for the first time on the issue.

The UN Sanctions Committee listed Azhar (QDe.019) for being associated with Al-Qaeda 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" the JeM.

In the past, China had stalled India's proposal to enlist Azhar as a 'global terrorist' at least four times in the last 10 years, the latest being in March this year. Beijing had previously blocked New Delhi's bid three times -- in 2009, 2016 and 2017.

The Pakistan-based terror group claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama terror attacks that killed 40 CRPF personnel in south Kashmir.

A global terrorist tag under the UN's 1267 committee would lead to a freeze on Azhar's assets and a ban on his travel and constraints on possessing weapons, similarly to the Al Qaida and ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).

Reacting to the development, the US National Security Council said that designating Azhar demonstrates "international commitment" to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia. The U.S. commends the designation of Azhar under United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, the state media reported. (ANI)