Marking a big diplomatic victory for India, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday placed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in its sanctions list.
“The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of [Masood Azhar] to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List," the UN committee said.
India had been making persistent efforts to designate Masood Azhar as global terrorist and the latest move was reiterated after the February 14Pulwama terror attack, claimed by JeM, on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force which killed 40 CRPF personnel.
India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the U.N. Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: ``Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in U.N. Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.’’
India’s sustained efforts for the last one decade and negotiations with key UNSC members turned out to be crucial factors that appear to have influenced China to relent which had blocked similar moves at the world body to ban Masood Azhar more than once.
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley in his tweet said: "India stands vindicated. Masood Azar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands".
Mr Jaitley said the move "marks a high point for the Prime Minister’s foreign policy".
Mr Akbaruddin in his first reactions said, "This move is for India a significant outcome because we have been at it for several years. The first attempt we made in this regard was in 2009".
