NEW DELHI: Ahead of expiry of the Chinese “hold” against designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist by the UN, India today said the “ball is in the court” of Sanctions Committee and expressed hope that it will eventually see the “logic”.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said that India’s application seeking sanctions against Azhar was submitted in March and was before the UN’s Sanctions Committee which has 15 members, who are also in security council.
“Ball is in their (Committee’s) court. We remain hopeful that eventually logic of Masood Azhar (not) remaining outside the ambit of the committee when the organisation which he represents has been proscribed for many years would be seen,” he said.
China had in October extended its “technical hold” on India’s move to get Azhar banned by the UN. The current extension will expire on December 31 and if China does not raise further objection, the resolution designating Azhar a terrorist could stand passed automatically.
Swarup also said the recent visit of Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to the US was only in the context of raising UN-related issues with the Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres and he did not interact with any member of the Trump Administration. In the past he has had some interactions with a few senior members of the Administration, he added. (AGENCIES)
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