China extends hold against Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar at the UN

China has extended its hold by three months on the US, France and UK-backed proposal at the United Nations 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar a terrorist.

Home Ministry sources have confirmed to India Today that China extended the six-month hold that it had placed in February. If the deadline had lapsed without the Chinese objection, Masood Azhar would automatically have been designated.

This isn't the first time that China has blocked a move against Azhar at the United Nations. Last year, India moved the 1267 committee for the UN ban against Azhar, accusing him of masterminding the Pathankot terrorist attack.

China followed the same pattern as it did this time of opposition for six months followed by three months technical hold leading to the lapse of India's application, and finally blocking India's move. China's argument has been lack of enough evidence.

This time, the United States, along with France and UK, had moved the proposal to ban Masood Azhar on the January 19.

China placed a hold on this move for six months on February 2, a hold which ended on Wednesday.

China, in time extended the technical hold for three more months, following which the move will stand lapsed and the proposal blocked if China's stand remains unchanged.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said they would take a decision in 'due course,' speaking of disagreements over the listing.

"At present, some members still have a disagreement over the listing matter," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

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