BEIJING: China on Thursday defended its position on the issue of Masood Azhar, urging the relevant parties to get it resolved through dialogue and consultation in order to avoid further complication in the matter.
On China’s move placing a technical suspension on the application of the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 Committee to Masood, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry said, “The 1267 Committee has clear rules on the listing procedures of terrorist organisations or individuals.”
“The Chinese side is conducting a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of the listed applications submitted by the countries concerned, and it will take more time, so it proposes a technical suspension.”
“This is in line with the rules of procedure of the 1267 Committee. China hopes that the relevant actions of the 1267 Committee will help the countries concerned to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation and avoid adding complicated factors to regional peace and stability,” the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The spokesperson clarified that in the 1267 Committee, the Chinese side suspended the listing of Masood, aiming to gain more time for the committee’s research and the next parties to negotiate and create a good atmosphere. In the long run, it will help ease regional tensions and maintain regional stability.
The statement said, “A solution that is acceptable to all parties is a fundamentally sustainable solution. China is willing to continue to strengthen communication and coordination with relevant parties including India and properly handle this issue.”
China said it will continue to communicate and coordinate with relevant parties in a constructive and responsible manner and properly handle this issue.
On Wednesday, China put on hold a request by Britain, France and the United States to add Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar to the UN terror blacklist, diplomats said.
It was the third time that the UN Security Council was considering a resolution to put Azhar on the UN sanctions blacklist, which would subject him to a global travel ban and assets freeze.
Before this, China has twice blocked — in 2016 and 2017 — attempts to impose sanctions on the JeM chief. The group itself was added to the terror list in 2001.
