Declaring Masood Azhar a ‘global terrorist’: Why is China blocking India’s proposal before UNSC?

In the past week, China extended its veto against India’s move to declare Maulana Masood Azhar a global terrorist. Using technical grounds, China has once again extended the hold. Defending the decision taken by China, Beijing’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong cited ‘differing views’. Baodong accused India of scoring political points by pushing such a proposal before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He further added that India should  not pursue its own political goals using the agenda of counterterrorism. The justification given by China has rattled the Indian establishment. Even the most hardline opinion makers in Pakistan could not give a rational justification to prove why Masood Azhar cannot be categorized as a terrorist. The decision taken by China is void of logic as Masood Azhar’s outfit, Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) has already been designated as a ‘terror group’ by the United Nations.

The reason why China is blocking India’s proposal before UNSC is purely geopolitical. Since Pakistan is it’s time trusted ally in South Asia, the communist nation is taking all steps necessary to diplomatically counter India’s assault. According to China’s Permanent Representative to UN Liu Jieyi, Masood Azhar does not qualify to be declared a terrorist under the United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee. The panel was formed in 1999 to declare Al Qaeda and Taliban as global terrorist groups since they were providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

To declare an individual or group as a ‘global terrorist’, the UNSC needs to adhere to 1267 Sanctions Committee rule. Any individual who gets designated as a global terrorist will have all his financial accounts freezed. Member nations would be instructed to raid all his properties and assets. Pakistan would be further nailed under global pressure to arrest Masood Azhar.