China hints at again blocking India's move to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar

Beijing: China on Monday once again hinted at blocking the United States, France and UK's bid to list Pakistan-based JeM chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, harping on its familiar stand that there was no consensus among the United Nations Security Council members.

China had in August extended by three months its technical hold on the proposal to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) founder Azhar as a global terrorist after having blocked the move in February this year at the United Nations.

"We have made our position clear many times from this podium. The relevant resolutions of Security Council have clear stipulations as to the mandate of 1267 Committee and also clear stipulations when it comes to the listing of relevant organisations and individuals," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told media briefing here.

Replying to questions whether China will block the ban on Azhar again when the 1267 Committee of the UNSC takes up the issue on Thursday, Hua said "as for listing application by the relevant country, there are disagreements".

A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move to put a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.

Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15-nation United Nations organ to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Masood Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

China views Pakistan as its all-weather friend and has been backing its bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.