India slams UN for dragging feet on JeM chief Masood

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reacted sharply to the extension of the “technical hold” on banning JeM chief Masood Azhar by the UN.
Without naming China, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said only one country had put the technical hold, blocking the ban by another three months, and criticised the complete “non-transparent and anonymous” manner of designating individuals by the UN Sanctions Committee.
Noting that the UN Sanctions Committee has already proscribed Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, he said the panel ignored the need to take action against the organisation’s main leader, financier and motivator who continues his terrorist actions unhindered.
“The Committee has pondered (over) our submission for six months. It will get a further three months to ponder, but that will in no way change  the Committee designating the terror organisation but failing to or ignoring the need to designate the organisation’s most active and dangerous terrorist. Such a designation would help send a strong signal to all terror groups  that the international community is no longer going to pursue or tolerate selective approaches to terrorism.”
China was the sole member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India’s application with the rest 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi’s bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban. (PTI)