China hits back at US for 'utilising all resources' to ban Masood Azhar

China alleged that Washington's move is "complicating the issue" and not desirable for peace and stability in South Asia.

The US has said it would "utilise all available resources” to ensure Masood Azhar was held accountable for his crimes and denied China's charges that it had circumvented United Nations Security Council’s sanctions committee to blacklist the Pakistan-based terrorist.

In a statement to Hindustan Times on Tuesday, the US state department spokesperson said: “While we strongly prefer that UNSC designations take place through the committee process, the United States and its allies and partners, including those on the UN Security Council, will utilize all available avenues to ensure that the founder and leader of the UN-designated terrorist organization JeM is held accountable by the international community.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that the US had "circulated a draft UNSC resolution with UK and French support”.

On Monday, China claimed "positive progress" was made in the process to resolve the issue of listing Masood Azhar as a global terrorist at the UN.

At the regular media briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: “After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress."

"The US knows that very well,” he added and said the US moving a draft resolution at the 15-member UN Security Council to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar at this junction was setting a bad example.

Shuang, however, did not elaborate on what kind of progress has been made on the issue.

Last Thursday, China had asked the US to "act cautiously" after the latter circulated a draft resolution at the 15-member UN Security Council to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar.

Jaish claimed responsibility for the Feb 14 Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 Indian soldiers.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had then said: "This (moving the draft resolution) is not in line with resolution of the issue through dialogue and negotiations. This has reduced the authority of the committee as a main anti-terrorism body of the UNSC and this is not conducive to the solidarity and only complicates the issue. We urge the US to act cautiously and avoid forcefully moving forward this resolution draft."

The US draft resolution to blacklist the Pakistan-based terrorist has been supported by France and UK. This comes two weeks after China blocked a proposal to list Masood Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.