Diplomatic experts hail Azhar's designation as global terrorist

Diplomatic experts in India hailed the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Wednesday, but doubted whether the move would push Pakistan to give up the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

In a huge diplomatic victory for India, the UN Sanctions Committee Wednesday designated Azhar as a global terrorist after China lifted its hold on a proposal to ban him.

Reacting to Azhar's designation, former foreign secretary Salman Haider said he sees it as a "very favourable development".

"It is something we have been trying to achieve from quite some time and China has been stonewalling and refusing to respond to what is a very obvious case India has been making repeatedly," he told PTI.

But now, China has changed track and India should welcome this, Haider said.

"It is good and we hope that will be followed up with equally significant measures on the same front," he said.

Gopalaswami Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, termed Azhar's listing as a "major achievement".

"This certainly isolates Pakistan, it will lie low. It is questionable whether its (Pakistan's) army will give up the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy," he said.

Vivek Katju, a former secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, "It marks a significant diplomatic gain. India succeeded in ensuring that the major powers mounted pressure on China because of the Balakot air strike and the doctrine of preemption."