Masood Azhar listed as global terrorist: Modi says 'big success' for India's efforts; Congress disappointed with no mention of Pulwama

New Delhi: India Wednesday welcomed the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as a “big success” for the country’s efforts to root out terrorism. Political parties cutting across ideological divide as well as strategic affairs experts also hailed the UN action against the Pakistan-based Azhar, nearly a decade after India first pushed for banning the terrorist, who is the mastermind of several major terror strikes in India. “It is a big success for India’s efforts to root out terrorism… India’s voice is being heard globally. India’s views cannot be ignored any longer, it has been proved,” Modi said at an election rally in Jaipur. “I want to say it loud and clear that this is just the beginning. Wait for what happens next.” [caption id=“attachment_6189521” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Indian Muslims stamp on a scratched photo of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, during a protest against Pakistan in Mumbai. AFP[/caption] In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs called Azhar’s designation as a UN proscribed terrorist a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. The UN Sanctions Committee on Wednesday designated Azhar as a global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to ban him. BJP president Amit Shah and several other party leaders credited Modi for Azhar’s listing, while the Congress noted its “disappointment” over no mention of the JeM chief’s role in the Pulwama terror attack in the UN resolution. Shah said Modi’s diplomatic efforts led to the United Nation’s decision as he pitched for his “strong and decisive” leadership. “That is why India needs a strong and decisive leader. Grateful to PM Narendra Modi and his diplomatic efforts that led to the UN designating Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. It was long over due. This also reflects PM Modi’s commitment towards zero tolerance against terrorism,” Shah tweeted. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also welcomed the UNSC decision, saying it was a diplomatic victory for Modi. In a series of tweets, Singh said with the designation of Azhar as global terrorist by the UNSC, India has received a big success against the global war on terror. “Credit for this diplomatic victory goes to the prime minister and his strong action against the terrorism,” he said. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said it was a welcome step, but added that the Opposition party was disappointed that the UN listing does not mention the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, and has no reference to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan-based Masood Azhar’s belated declaration as a global terrorist by UN is surely a welcome step. India’s fight against terrorism is resolute. We are disappointed that UN listing doesn’t mention Pulwama/J&K while listing Azhar’s role in terrorist activities,” he tweeted.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah alleged that the sacrifices of CRPF men were “sold down the river” for a symbolic win. “No mention of terror in Kashmir & no mention of Pulwama. It’s amazing how quickly the sacrifices of the CRPF men were sold down the river to get a symbolic win,” he said. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav congratulated the Indian diplomatic corp for the tireless work that led to this “significant victory”. “We demand Pakistan immediately arrest him, freeze his assets and shutdown all organisations linked to him,” he said. Union minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal described the designation of Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN as the result of the “most successful” foreign policy initiative under Modi. Former foreign secretary Salman Haider termed the UN decision as a “favourable development”, while former Indian envoy to Pakistan G Parthasarathy called it a major achievement . The Donald Trump administration in the US said that the UN declaring the JeM chief a global terrorist demonstrates international commitment to rooting out terrorism in Pakistan and bringing security and stability to South Asia, also expressing hope that Islamabad will take sustained and irreversible action against terror groups operating from its soil. Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Stephane Dujarric expressed hope that all member states abide by the decisions of the Sanctions Committee. “This is the work of a well-established mechanism through the Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. It is a big part of the United Nations work in the fight against terrorism,” he said. Meanwhile, diplomatic experts hailed the listing of hte JeM chief as a global terrorist but expressed doubt about whether the move would push Pakistan to give up the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. France, the UK and the US had moved a fresh proposal to declare Azhar a global terrorist by the UN in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in February. The JeM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack. However, China put a technical hold on the proposal, blocking it for the fourth time to designate Azhar. The Chinese move was termed “disappointing” by India. On Wednesday, China lifted its hold from the proposal.

A UNSC designation will subject Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. An assets freeze under the sanctions committee requires that all states freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.

“This is in accordance with India’s position and in line with the information that India has shared with the members of the Sanctions Committee regarding terrorist activities of Masood Azhar and the Jaish-e-Mohammed,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. “India will continue with its efforts through international forums to ensure that terrorist organisations and their leaders who cause harm to our citizens are brought to justice,” he added. In 2009, India first moved a proposal by itself to designate Azhar. In 2016 again India moved the proposal with the P3 — the United States, the United Kingdom and France — in the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, blocked India’s proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee.