WASHINGTON: The United States has revived its efforts to declare Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar a UN-designated global terrorist after its earlier attempt was blocked by China.

On Wednesday, the US circulated a resolution, drafted with British and French support, among a 15-member committee of the UN Security Council, known as the Security Council’s Islamic State and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, seeking an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze against the JeM chief.

Last month, the US, UK and France made a similar move in this forum to proscribe Masood Azhar but China vetoed the move on March 13. China prevented the committee from sanctioning him in 2016 and 2017 as well.

The committee, which has the same members as the Security Council, needs consensus to endorse such moves. But Indian media reported on Thursday that the resolution Washington is now moving only needs nine votes in favour. It also cannot be vetoed by the P-5, the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council.

Reports in the US media, however, pointed out that China wields a veto power in this matter as well and could block the fresh US attempt. The Chinese veto irked India as well as the initiators of the March 13 move. But spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lu Kang told journalists in Beijing that China had conducted a “comprehensive and thorough evaluation” of the move against the JeM chief and needed more time to consider the proposal.

It was not immediately clear when the draft resolution to designate Masood Azhar as global terrorist would be put to vote.

The draft resolution points out that JeM had claimed responsibility for the Feb 14 suicide-bombing in Pulwama, which killed 40 Indian troops.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2019