India’s Bid to Ban Masood Azhar “Politically Motivated”: Pakistan

Pakistan has claimed in front of the Security Council it has “evidence” of Indian involvement in terrorism.

JeM chief Masood Azhar. (Photo: Reuters)

Much to India’s displeasure, China on Friday blocked the proposal at the United Nations to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist. Responding to this, Pakistan on Sunday called India’s bid “politically motivated” and “replete with frivolous information.”

The 1267 Sanctions Committee related to ISIS/Al-Qaeda has rejected a politically motivated proposal by India. Replete with frivolous information and baseless allegations, the Indian proposal had no merit and was primarily aimed at advancing its narrow national agenda.

Nafees Zakaria, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson

The news triggered a strong reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India.

“The Chinese action confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

This is not the first time that China has blocked India’s proposal to list Azhar a terrorist. Earlier, China had prevented a UN ban on Azhar saying there were “different views” on India’s application.

It is clear that India’s unfounded allegations against Pakistan are in fact aimed at masking its own terrorist activities in Pakistan, as well as diverting the attention of the international community from the grave violations of human rights and state sponsored terrorism perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces in Kashmir. 

Nafees Zakaria, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson

Pakistan also promised to share “evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism in Pakistan” in the coming days, as a proof of their “duplicitous behaviour and blood on its hands.”