China on Friday claimed that its decision to block India’s move at the UN to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was objective and just based on facts and rules.

China has blocked India’s resolution at the UN to proscribe Masood Azhar, who New Delhi has identified to be the mastermind of terror attack on the Pathankot air force base, for the second time.

In the wake of the attack, India had moved the 1267 Committee of the Security Council in February this year to add Azhar to the banned terrorists’ list.

China has blocked India’s resolution at the UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar, the alleged mastermind of Pathankot terror attack

The JeM is already on the banned list. But like in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, India’s attempt to ban Azhar this time around too has faced the Chinese veto road block.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said, “China opposes all forms of terrorism, supports the UN in playing a central and coordinating role in global counter-terrorism cooperation, and plays an active part in this area.

China deals with the listing matter of the 1267 Committee on the basis of facts and in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and relevant rules of procedure.”

China had previously cited “lack of evidence” as reason for its action.

This time, no rationale or explanation was provided to the 15-member committee — where Beijing was the sole one to object.

“China remains in contact with all relevant parties on this matter,” the spokesperson added. Unlike in the past, this time the US, the UK and France voluntarily chose to co-sponsor India’s resolution as it awaited any objections from member countries during the “silent procedure”.

It is learnt that India in the resolution had said the JeM was put on the global terror list ten years ago and was recently involved in the Pathankot attack. India has shared evidence on the case with the country from where the act of terror perpetrated and based on actionable intelligence they are investigating it. So citing the context and circumstance of the fresh case, India seeks a ban on the JeM chief.

Speaking to Mail Today on the condition of anonymity, a diplomat said, “This resolution does not seek arrest of Masood Azhar. It asks for blocking weaponry, funds supply and overseas travel of the head of a banned terror outfit. Evidence is not an issue here. But this move exposes the China-Pakistan Nexus.”

During the recent US visit of Sartaj Aziz, the Advisor on Foreign Affairs to Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue joint statement had mentioned that “Noting the steps taken by Pakistan to date, including the detention of (JeM) leader Maulana Masood Azhar, the US appreciated PM Sharif’s stated commitment to take prompt and decisive action on this investigation and to bring the perpetrators of the January 2, 2016 attack on the Pathankot air base to justice.”

This too had been included in the additional documents provided by India to support its resolution targeting Azhar.