Designation of Azhar as global terrorist is right step to combat terrorism: India

Welcoming the move, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said this is in accordance with India’s position and in line with the information that Delhi has shared with the members of the Sanctions Committee regarding terrorist activities of Masood Azhar and the Jaish-e-Mohammad.

In response to a media query on China’s lifting the hold on terrorist designation of Masood Azhar by the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN, the MEA spokesperson said: "The 1267 Sanctions Committee’s decision to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. We welcome the decision."

Kumar also stated that India will continue with its efforts through international forums to ensure that terrorist organizations and their leaders who cause harm to our citizens are brought to justice.

China had earlier blocked Masood Azhar's listing under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

Masood Azhar heads Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed which was responsible for Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 soldiers in February.

"Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list Grateful to all for their support," tweeted Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent envoy to the UN.

The designation of Azhar as global terrorist by UN's Security Council means all his assets and finances will be frozen.

Besides India, the US, UK and France had also put pressure on China to change its stand.

These countries had recently pushed a fresh proposal on the matter.

The move is likely to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ongoing general elections as well since he had pitched that his government has a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism.

Last week, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, who was in China, provided the country's administration with more evidence on the Jaish's role in terror attacks in India.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media that his country made positive progress to resolve the issue of listing Masood Azhar and that it will be properly solved.