12.8.22

China Backs Pak Terrorist at UNSC Sanctions Committee

China has yet again put a technical hold on an Indo-US initiative to list a Pakistan-based proscribed terror mastermind who has been behind several terrorist attacks in India. A proposal was moved recently by India, and co-sponsored by the US, to list Abdul Rauf Asghar in the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. Asghar, deputy chief of the proscribed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed and younger brother of founder Masood Azhar, is said to have been involved in the planning and execution of numerous terrorist attacks, including hijacking of Indian Airlines aircraft IC814 (1999), attack on Parliament (2001) and attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot (2016). All other 14 member states of the UN Security Council were supportive of the listing proposal but China nixed it and put a technical hold on the initiative, said people aware of the matter.

In June, China had similarly placed on hold a joint proposal by India and the US to list the deputy chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Abdul Rehman Makki, who has been involved in raising funds, recruiting and radicalising youths to resort to violence and planning attacks in India, including the Mumbai terrorist attacks (2008). While Makki was holding leadership positions in LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, LeT was also responsible for and had involvement in prominent attacks in India such as the 2000 Red Fort attack, Rampur Central Reserve Police Force camp attack in January 2008, Karan Nagar (Srinagar) attack in February 2018, Khanpora (Baramulla) attack in May 2018, Srinagar attack in June 2018 and Gurez and Bandipora attack in August 2018.


No comments: