France freezes assets of JeM chief Masood Azhar, India welcomes move

In a statement government, the French government said: "France has decided to sanction Masood Azhar at the national level by freezing his assets in application of the Monetary and Financial Code. A joint decree of the Ministries of the Interior, and Economy and Finance was published today in the Official Gazette."

"We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree," it said.

France said it will always be by India’s side in the fight against terrorism.

India, meanwhile, welcomed the move taken by France.

"We welcome the decision taken by France to sanction Masood Azhar, Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based & UN proscribed terrorist organisation; and responsible for the Pulwama terrorist attack @Indian_Embassy," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

China on Wednesday again blocked a move to designate as global terrorist Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief and recent Pulwama attack mastermind Masood Azhar at the UN Security Council (UNSC) by placing the proposal on "technical hold", evoking strong disappointment by India which vowed to work to bring to book the perpetrators of terror attack to justice.

The proposal to blacklist Masood Azhar was moved by France, the UK and the US on Feb 27 on the heels of the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir that killed about 40 Indian soldiers. Jaish has claimed responsibility for the attack.