All member states should abide by UN Sanctions Committee's decision on Azhar: UN chief

With the UN Security Council designating Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed hope that all member states abide by the decisions of the Sanctions Committee that has subjected the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief to an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban.

Spokesman for the UN chief Stephane Dujarric in response to a question by PTI on the Secretary General's reaction to the designation of Azhar by the Sanctions Committee said, "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.

"It's always good when all member states of the security council agree on something. We would of course hope that all member states abide by those decisions," he said.

In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations designated Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him.

The US, France along with the UK had moved the proposal to designate Azhar as a "global terrorist" in the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February.

A Security Council member said Germany, Belgium and Poland also co-sponsored the proposal, adding that there has been new unity in this regard and these three delegations also supported the proposal to list Azhar.