Germany initiates move at EU to list Masood Azhar as global terrorist

Germany has initiated a move at the European Union (EU) to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, days after China blocked a bid at the United Nations to designate him, founder and head of the terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad, diplomatic sources said.

Listing of Azhar would result in his travel ban as well as freezing of his assets in the 28 countries of the bloc. All 28 member countries of the European Union (EU) will have to support the move to ban the Pakistan-based terrorist. During such issues, the bloc decides under the principle of consensus.

French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the French Ministry of the Interior, on March 15, had announced in a joint statement that apart from freezing the Pulwama attack mastermind’s assets, Paris will also be pressing for including JeM chief on the European Union (EU)’s list of persons suspected of being involved in terror activities.

“We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree.” the statement from the French government had said.

The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UNSC was moved by France, the UK and the US, in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. JeM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

Fourteen out of the 15 members of the UN Security Council supported the proposal. However, China, for the fourth time, had blocked the move on “technical terms”.