China's stand on Masood Azhar is not helping to decisively confront terror: India

NEW DELHI: Days after visits to Moscow and Beijing by senior Ministers and the NSA, the Modi government has informed the Parliament that it has forcefully taken up with the international community China's decision to put a technical hold on India's bid at UN to ban JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and that Beijing's stand is not helping to decisively confront the menace of terrorism.
"We have forcefully taken up with international community that while the Pakistan-based JeM was listed in UN Security Council Committee established under UNSCR 1267/1989/2253 as far back as 2001 for its well known terror activities and links to the Al Qaeda, the designation of the group’s main leader, financier and motivator has been put on a technical hold," MoS External Affairs V K Singh said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Thursday in response to a question on India's protest against China's veto in UN on Azhar.

Singh, however, did not name the countries which India had moved after China's decision to block India's efforts.

Pointing out that the matter was also raised with Beijing Singh said, "The matter was taken up with China, including by the External Affairs Minister during her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow on 18 April 2016 and during the visits of Raksha Mantri to China from 17-20 April, 2016 and National Security Advisor to China from 20-21 April, 2016,"

India’s position has been conveyed clearly that there cannot be different standards to judge terrorism, the Minister emphasized. "China has often repeated its concern on spread of terrorism and their desire to cooperate with us on this issue. The Government is in constant touch with China on this matter."

China, in its response, it may be recalled has opined that India should directly raise the matter of Azhar with Pakistan where the fugitive is based.

UN Security Council Resolution 1267 regime is an important building block of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy that should aim to protect all member states and their citizens from the activities of terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and its leader Mohammed Masood Azhar, Singh noted.

However, he was quick to add, "Its working methods, based on the principles of unanimity and anonymity, is leading the Committee to adopt a selective approach to combating terrorism. This does not help the international community to decisively confront the menace of terrorism."

Meanwhile in response to another question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday on visas for Chinese nationals Singh admitted delay in grant of conference and research visas to citizens from that neighbouring country. "During official meetings and discussions, the Chinese officials have brought up the issue of delays in obtaining Indian Conference and Research visas from time to time."

On the other hand Indian nationals have not faced any difficulty in obtaining research and conference visas from China, the Minister informed the House.