China shields Masood Azhar: India has support of 14 members, hold is not a block, say Govt sources

Days after China blocked India's move to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), government sources on Saturday said, India is still working with members of sanction committee and it has 14 members support.

“We are still working with members of sanction committee. There is no bigger statement, half of UNSC co-sponsors proposal. The hold is not a block. We are optimistic,” government sources said.

“India will show patience as long as it takes, we are cautiously optimistic that M Azhar will be listed. There are issues China has to resolve with Pak. India has the strong support of 14 members,” sources added.

Sources said that China is also aware of terrorists organising from Pakistan’s soil. “China also knows terrorism is a challenge, they know it operates from Pakistan. India will show patience. Pakistan is spending diplomatic capital in defending indefensible. Its action is cosmetic. The US is supportive of India & has assured that Pakistan will take action,” sources said.

Notably, the US has supported India’s bid to blacklist Masood Azhar and appreciated it for sharing its position in real time. “There are no takers in the US to take Pak's narrative that India is posing threat,” said sources.

China has adequate information that there are groups in Pakistan working against China. India knows there is a number of Indians in Pakistan. Pak can hand over Indians that are in India's wanted list&international terror list-Dawood Ibrahim & Sayeed Salahudeen. Very specific details were shared, if Pak thinks India can't verify, it can get international verification.

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