ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, China hinted at ‘progress’ on designation of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar by the United Nations’ 1267 Sanctions Committee, amid the US calls for resolving the ongoing problem.
Senior Pakistani officials revelaed to a private source that China could lift its technical hold leading to Azhar’s designation, while the FO will share the details with media in a special meeting scheduled for today.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, speaking at a media briefing in Beijing, said: “We support the listing issue being settled within the 1267 committee through dialogue and consultation and I believe this is the consensus of most members. Second, the relevant consultations are going on within the committee and have achieved some progress. Third, I believe, with the joint efforts of all parties, this issue can be properly resolved.”
Although India has been pushing for Azhar’s listing since 2016, the Pulwama attack has been catalyst for the move. The Indian resolution was backed by UNSC permanent members the US, the United Kingdom and France. However, for the fourth time, China applied a technical hold.
However this time, the US, the UK and France, in a change of tactics, plan to table a resolution in the Security Council.
As Chinese spokesman Geng noted that the matter needed to be settled within 1267 Committee, Beijing has remained averse to dealing with the issue in the UNSC, where proceedings are public as compared to the sanctions committee, which operates under secrecy.
Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, while talking to journalists at the US Embassy in Islamabad, said: “We would encourage the parties to move forward with the designation (of Azhar). It reaffirms the centrality of UN and UN role in designating terrorists.”
Pakistan has done some good progress on curbing terrorist funding, hopeful to see implementation of NAP, Amb Wells
She noted: “We believe designation process should be technical in nature, even assessment of evidence and countries moving forward to ensure that UN process works and works well and the international community is able to take corrective action against any terrorist, whoever they are, wherever they are located.”
Amb Wells was on a two-day trip to Pakistan in which she met Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Hayat, Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, and several other key officials. Her visit coincided with the trip of US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace and Reconciliation ZalmayKhalilzad and the two together held a few meetings.
The US embassy in a statement held that Amb Wells during her negotiations recognized the importance of restoring peace, security and stability in the region.
About the proceedings in Pakistan’s case, she told journalists that Pakistan would be required to account for in detail the steps it had taken to prevent terrorist funding and growth.
Asked about US assessment of the steps taken by Pakistan so far, Amb Wells said: “We have heard some positive reports and partly seen some positive actions, but FATF itself will determine whether it meets the level of identifying and enforcing (restrictions on) the ability of these groups to fundraise and organise.”
Regarding prospects for improvement in Pakistan-India ties after the installation of new government in India, the US official said that forward movement would depend on the steps taken by Pakistan government to demonstrate its seriousness in implementing the (National Action) plan.
Clarifying the expectations from Pakistan, she said that the latter government should use force, as its right, to maintain peace and stability.
However, while commenting upon Indian involvement in terrorism in Pakistan and Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies funding Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), she said she did not have any evidence.
