Central Idea: China has objected to India’s proposal to blacklist Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior terrorist from Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) on the UN Security Council’s 1267 List.

China’s objection to the proposal

• China is a permanent, veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council.
• It has put a hold on proposals to blacklist other Pakistan-based terrorists in the past, including Hafiz Talah Saeed, Shahid Mahmood, and Sajid Mir.

The UNSC 1267 list

• The UNSC resolution 1267 was adopted unanimously on 15 October 1999.
• It came to force in 1999, and strengthened after the September 2001 attacks.
• It is now known as the Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

What is UNSC 1267 committee?

• It comprises all permanent and non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• The 1267 list of terrorists is a global list, with a UNSC stamp.
• It is one of the most important and active UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in relation to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
• It discusses UN efforts to limit the movement of terrorists, especially those related to travel bans, the freezing of assets and arms embargoes for terrorism.

How is the listing done?

(1) Submission of Proposal

• Any member state can submit a proposal for listing an individual, group, or entity.
• The proposal must include acts or activities indicating the proposed individual/group/entity had participated in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities linked to the said organizations.

(2) Actual decision

• Decisions on listing and de-listing are adopted by consensus.
• The proposal is sent to all the members, and if no member objects within five working days, the proposal is adopted.
• An “objection” means rejection for the proposal.

(3) Putting and resolving ‘Technical Holds’

• Any member of the Committee may also put a “technical hold” on the proposal and ask for more information from the proposing member state.
• During this time, other members may also place their own holds.
• The matter remains on the “pending” list of the Committee.
• Pending issues must be resolved in six months, but the member state that has placed the hold may ask for an additional three months.
• At the end of this period, if an objection is not placed, the matter is considered approved.

Here is a timeline of how China disrupts the global efforts against terrorism:

• 2009: After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India moved an independent terror designation proposal against Masood Azhar but China blocked the move.
• 2016: After seven years, India proposes listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and is supported by the US, the UK and France. China blocks the move again.
• 2017: The trio moves a third proposal only to be blocked by China again.
• 2019: After the attacks on the CRPF personnel in J-K’s Pulwama, India calls 25 envoys of different countries to highlight the role Islamabad plays in funding, promoting and strengthening global terrorism. India moves the fourth proposal demanding Masood Azhar’s listing. China lifted its technical hold.
• June 2022: China blocked a proposal by India and the US to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki as a ‘Global Terrorist’
• August 2022: China blocks India-US joint proposal to list Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) deputy chief Abdul Rauf Azhar as UNSC designated terrorist.

Conclusion

• China’s actions expose its double speak and double standards when it comes to the international community’s shared battle against terrorism.
• This clearly depicts its care for its vassal state Pakistan.

Back2Basics: United Nations Security Council

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