France has decided to freeze the assets of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. It also said that it would discuss putting him on a European Union list of people suspected of being involved in terrorism. A joint statement which was issued by French interior ministry, finance ministry and foreign ministry has said that France has always been and always will be by India side in the fight against terrorism. “We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree”, stated the statement issued by France.
France, with the backing of the US and Britain had recently initiated a move to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist at the United Nations Security Council. The move came in the wake of the Pulwama suicide bombing. However, the move was blocked by China on Thursday, which is for the fourth time Beijing has done so. Explaining its move of blocking Masood Azhar listing, China had said that needed more time to study the matter and it was sincere about building better relations with India. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Thursday said that Beijing had always carried out “thorough and in-depth” investigation of the applications to the UN sanctions committee. “The UNSC 1267 committee has clear standards and procedures for designating terrorist organisations and individuals. China conducts through in-depth assessment of this application and we still need time. That is why put forward the technical hold”, said Lu said.
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China “technical hold” is valid for six months and can be extended by three months. The other 14 members of the Security Council had supported the listing. A Security Council diplomat had said, “If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn’t have to come to that.”
Pakistan is under pressure from global powers to act against groups carrying out attacks in India, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, which claimed responsibility for a February 14 attack in Kashmir Pulwama that killed at least 40 CRPF personnel.