Responsible discussions can resolve the issue in a sustainable manner: China on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist at UNSC
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China has vetoed Azhar's resolution thrice earlier - 2009, 2016, 2017.
As the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) gets set to discuss the resolution to list Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said today that a decision needs to be arrived at through "responsible and serious discussions" over the issue.
The UNSC had moved the resolution just days after the Pulwama terrorist attack in which India blamed the JeM chief of masterminding the attack. The JeM had taken responsibility for the attack on a CRPF bus on February 14th at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) in which over 40 personnel were killed.
“China will continue to communicate and work with relevant parties in a responsible manner so as to properly resolve this matter. Only by making a decision through responsible and serious discussions can we resolve the issue in a sustainable manner,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a media briefing on Masood's issue.
France, US and UK had proposed the listing of Azhar as an international terrorist and if no country raises any issue by March 13, Azhar will be put on the UN terror list.
China has vetoed Azhar's resolution thrice earlier - 2009, 2016, 2017, however in recent days pressure has grown to list Masood as a "global terrorist" after France backed India's stand on the issue.
On Monday, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale met US secretary of state Mike Pompeo to press the terror issue. Pompeo told the Indian foreign secretary that Pakistan should to take "meaningful action" against terrorist groups.
During the Pulwama attack, Gokhale had briefed the media during which he had said there was credible information information that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group was attempting suicide attacks at various parts of the country, as a result a pre-emptive strike became important and India struck the biggest camp of JeM at Balakot.
As Indian Air Force jets pounded targets Balakot in February, China had called for calm and had said it was in touch with both India and Pakistan regarding recent tensions. During a press conference, Kang had expressed the hope that India and Pakistan would maintain "good neighbourly and friendly ties and settle issues through friendly consultation."