China saves Masood Azhar at UN for narrow objectives: India

New Delhi [India], November 2 (ANI): India on Thursday said that China continues to save Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations for narrow objectives.

New Delhi's response came after Beijing once again blocked consensus on the listing of Masood Azhar as an internationally designated terrorist under the UNSCR 1267 Committee.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, ""We are deeply disappointed that once again, a single country has blocked international consensus on the designation of an acknowledged terrorist and leader of UN-designated terrorist organization, Masood Azhar."

He hoped that China shall soon realize that accommodating with terrorism for narrow objectives is a short-sighted approach.

"India strongly believes that double standards and selective approaches will only undermine the international community's resolve to combat terrorist. We can only hope that there will be a realization that accommodating with terrorism for narrow objectives is both short sighted and counter productive," Kumar asserted.

The Jaish-e-Muhammad is designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. State Department, while India accuses its leader of launching several terrorist attacks on its soil, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack.

India has initiated the move to include Azhar on the U.N. terrorist list, subjecting him to a travel ban. All 15 members of the Security Council, except China, support India's bid.

China is one of the five veto-holding members in the United Nations. The other countries are United States, United Kingdom, Russia and France. (ANI)