U.S., FRANCE AND U.K. IN TALKS WITH CHINA ON AZHAR

Source : www.thehindu.com

Date : 2019-03-17

U.S., FRANCE AND U.K. IN TALKS WITH CHINA ON AZHAR

Relevant for: International Relations | Topic: India – Pakistan

The U.S. and two other permanent Security Council members — France and Britain — are believed to be in intense good faith discussions with China to arrive at a compromise on the UN designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

On Wednesday, China blocked, for the fourth consecutive time, a resolution at the UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar as a global terrorist.

While the internal consultations of the Security Council committee remain private, this time several Council members, frustrated at China’s unreasonable stance to protect a terrorist, privately spoke to the media on the negative role being played by Beijing.

“If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn’t have to come to that,” a Security Council diplomat told PTI on Wednesday, in a tough warning to Beijing.

It is learnt that China has been informed by these countries that they are seriously looking at other options, in particular an open debate followed by a vote on a resolution to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

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