Telangana News

China said India should conform to relevant UN Security Council resolutions on listing JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

"I have repeated a number of times, when it comes to the listing matter of the UN Security Council 1267 Committee, we believe it should conform with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Committee's rules of procedure," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

Reacting to it, India termed it as "unfortunate blow" and a step that confirms the prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.

New Delhi has to make a fresh listing request for Azhar to be banned by the global body, officials said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar...The international community is aware that the Pakistan- based Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack. The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism."

MEA Spokesperson VikasSwarup opined that, Beijing's decision is surprising as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism.

"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organization. We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," he added.