New Delhi/Washington, Mar 13 (UNI) Close on the heels of the pressure being build up on China to allow UNSC sanctions against JeM chief Masood Azhar, Beijing on Wednesday indicated that it could still 'disappoint' the global community and especially India and the US.
“The discussions, I want to say, must follow the rules and procedures of the relevant bodies and only the solution that is acceptable to all sides is conducive for resolving the issue,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media in Beijing within hours Washington tried to build up a pressure saying "failure to designate Masood Azhar (a global terrorist) would run counter to this goal".
India has held Masood responsible for the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel and wants firm action against him by both Pakistan and the international community.
Apparently, the US and other global players do not want China to veto the UNSC move this time. In what is seen as a significant development, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo during his meeting with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale explained his understanding of India's concerns regarding cross-border terrorism.
"They agreed that Pakistan needs to take concerted action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and to deny safe haven to all terrorist groups in its territory," an MEA statement said.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale held Foreign Office Consultations in Washington on Tuesday.
"Both sides called on Pakistan to meaningfully address the concerns of the international community on terrorism, including cross-border terrorism," an official statement said.
China on Monday said it wants to "follow the rules" and favours a "responsible solution".
Beijing, which has a veto-wielding membership in the UNSC, earlier had blocked the move to designate Azhar a global terrorist thrice.
A listing request to designate Masoor Azhar as a terrorist is being considered at the UN Security Council and if 'no objections are raised' by 3 pm on Wednesday in the US (around 12.30 am Thursday morning IST), the move will go through, sources said.
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar had said in a statement last week: "All members of the UNSC are aware about Jaish-e-Mohammad training camps in Pakistan and about the Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and his presence in Pakistan. We call upon all members of UNSC to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist under 1267 UN Sanctions Committee."
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