Pulwama attack: How China stood in India’s way to list JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar as ‘global terrorist’

India had started pushing for Azhar’s listing since 2008-09, after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and even then China had put a technical hold.

With Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad having claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terrorist attack Thursday, the focus is back on Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar and Delhi’s failed attempt to list him as a “global terrorist” at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Azhar was released by the A B Vajpayee government in December 1999, along with Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Omar Sheikh, in exchange for the release of the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814.

Delhi’s attempts to list him at the UNSC have been repeatedly blocked by China.

The most recent effort began after India blamed Jaish for the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2, 2016. India put forward a proposal in February 2016 to designate Azhar as a terrorist under the aegis of the UNSC 1267 committee. China intervened at Pakistan’s behest and placed a technical hold on India’s move in March 2016, and again in October 2016. It subsequently used its veto power to block the proposal in December 2016, a day before the technical hold ended.