China defends blocking India's UN bid to ban Masood Azhar

The JeM chief was the mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack

China on Friday defended its decision to once again block India's bid at the UN to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Chief and mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack Masood Azhar, saying that it acts on such issues based on facts and rules in an "objective and just manner".

Asked about China's reported last minute move putting a technical hold on India's submission which Indian officials say was armed with strong evidence of the JeM's terror activities and its role in the Pathankot attack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said here that China "supports UN playing a central and coordinating role in international cooperation against terrorism".

"We always deal with the listing issue (banning militant groups and their leaders) under the UNSC committee established under resolution 1267 based on facts and relevant rules of procedures in an objective and just manner," he said.

"The Chinese side has always been in communication with relevant parties on the listing issue," he said hinting that China is also in touch with India on the issue.

This is not the first time China has blocked India's bid to get Pakistan-based militant groups and leaders proscribed by the UN.

The UN had banned the JeM in 2001 but India's efforts for a ban on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack also did not fructify as China, one of the five permanent members of the UN group with veto powers, didn't allow the ban apparently at the behest of Pakistan again.

Last July, China had similarly halted India's move in the UN to take action against Pakistan for its release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, saying that its stand was "based on facts and in the spirit of objectiveness and fairness" with Beijing again claiming at the time that it was in touch with New Delhi.

Stating that China is opposed to all forms of terrorism, Hong said: "China has also taken active part in international counter terrorism corporation".

To another question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Thursday that the world community should "drop the notion that terrorism is someone else's problem and that 'his' terrorist is not 'my' terrorist," Hong said "China opposes double standards on the issue of terrorism".

"We believe that all parties should enhance communication in a bid to forge counter-terrorism synergy to work together with entire international community including India to jointly fight against the threat of terrorism and safeguard peace and stability of the region and beyond," he said.

Answering another question, Hong took exception to a US organisation felicitating Dolkin Issa, Secretary-General of World Uyghur Congress with a human rights award, saying that it is "blasphemous" because he was wanted for terrorist activities in China.

He said, "Dolkin is a person wanted by Interpol and Chinese police on suspicion of killing robbing and other terrorist activities besides funding is East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)" which carried out a number of violent attacks in Xinjiang and many parts of China.

"Terrorism poses challenge to the bottomline of human civilisation and morality. Giving such an award to Dolkin is blasphemy to human rights and rule of law. Chinese side is opposed to the double standards on counter terrorism issues," he said.