Declaring Masood Azhar a Global Terrorist: Victory of India

In a major diplomatic win for India, the United Nations declared Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist. The decision from UN Security Council’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee came after China lifted its technical hold, imposed on March 13, on a proposal made by US, UK and France. Even before that, China, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, had been blocking India’s attempts to secure designation against Azhar almost for a decade. There are reasons for India to celebrate a diplomatic victory, declaring Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. It has more reasons due to Chinese role. The diplomatic tussle was shifted from Pakistan- India to India – China on Masood Azhar. India has been trying since 2009 but China came in to safeguard Pakistan. China-Pakistan nexus was further cemented on terrorism. The more India reacted against Pakistan closer China went to Pakistan. Therefore, in the diplomatic turf it is a victory against Chinese hold. That shows some new trends in world politics. If China has bent down against the joint pressure of India-US, it will have palpable impact in South Asia.

This was fourth time. The US has threatened China of removing the secrecy carpet and bringing it to UNSC, where it will be officially declared who is protecting terrorist outfits. Then China wilfully wanted to postpone till 15th June to deny current regime of India to enjoy electoral advantages through this move. China and Pakistan wanted that current ruling party of India must not get advantage of this diplomatic victory. But US pressure scuttled the China-Pakistan game plan. Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, tweeted: “Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list.” The decision to declare Azhar as an international terrorist was taken by the UNSC Sanctions Committee 1267. The decision to designate the JeM chief came three months after the ghastly terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama district of Kashmir carried out by the JeM. Thanking US, UK and France besides the countries in and outside the council which supported India’s effort at “not tolerating a terrorist”, Akbaruddin especially mentioned the Permanent Representative of Indonesia “who was instrumental in ensuring that the process went smoothly and in accordance with our agreed understandings”.

Azhar formed JeM on his release from prison in India in 1999 in exchange for 155 hostages on an Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan by Pakistani terrorists. The UN Security Council listed JeM as a terrorist group in October 2001 for its links with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, experts have questioned Pakistan’s enforcement of listing measures imposed by the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee on other terrorist leaders such as Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Saeed was designated a global terrorist by the UN shortly after the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the US has offered a $10 million bounty for him, but he continues to operate freely, raise funds and recruit members for his group.

Jaish-e-Mohammad literally means the Army of Mohammad.Masood Azhar founded the group after he was released by India in 1999, one of three men set free in exchange for the crew and passengers of an Indian Airlines plane hijacked and flown to then Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Masood Azhar reportedly met the former Taliban leader Mullah Omar and al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden when he was in the country.

Conclusion

The UN declaring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist demonstrates international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, the Trump administration said, expressing hope that Islamabad will take sustained and irreversible action against terror groups operating from its soil. That is more important for the world to see. Merely declaring Masood Azhar a global terrorist is not going to serve the purpose. The mushrooming of terrorist outfits in Pakistan must be rooted out. Pakistan has been an evil state for two decades. India and Afghanistan are victims of Terrorism stirred from Pakistan. The double standard of China must be exposed. Nevertheless India under current political regime is very categorical on terrorism. It is not going to give any breathing space for Pakistan. It has to walk the talk to initiate the meaningful bilateral ties.