UN adds Pakistani militant chief Masood Azhar to terror list

A UN sanctions committee on Wednesday added Masood Azhar, the leader of a Pakistan-based Islamist group, on its list of global terrorists after China lifted its objections to the move.

The sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaida announced in a press release the designation of Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

JeM has claimed responsibility for the 14 February attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops and stoked tensions between India and Pakistan.

Under the decision, Azhar, considered the founder of JeM, will be subjected to an assets freeze, global travel ban and arms embargo. JeM itself has been on the UN terror list since 2001.

China had blocked three previous attempts at the sanctions committee to blacklist Azhar and put a technical hold on a fourth request from Britain, France and the United States in March.

UN diplomats said the request was again submitted to the committee last week and that China had not opposed the move to blacklist Azhar. Any decision to add individuals or groups to the UN terror list is taken by consensus in the committee.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
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