China relented on Masood Azhar to preserve its image amid global pressure

Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist is a diplomatic victory for India, but it might not do enough to stop terrorism emanating from Pakistan

A combination of international pressure, threat to its national reputation, and transactional diplomacy forced China to lift its technical hold on the designation of Masood Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), as a "global terrorist" by the United Nations (UN). But, this diplomatic victory for India might not significantly alter the way India has to fight terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Azhar's listing as a global terrorist by the UN on Wednesday came after China lifted its hold on the proposal to blacklist him — a significant U-turn given the stance Beijing had maintained for close to a decade. India,