CHINA’S STANCE DANGEROUS
China’s stance over holding the proposal to impose sanctions on Abdul Rauf Asghar, a top commander of Pakistan-based proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) when all other 14 members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have agreed to go for the proposal is intriguing and dangerous for the countries facing terrorism. It is pertinent to mention that India and the United States wanted Asghar to be designated as an international terrorist and be subjected to a global travel ban and freezing of his assets, a proposal that would need to be agreed by all members in the 15-nation UNSC body but reportedly China, a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN and a close ally of Pakistan, delayed the move by putting a hold on it. It is not at all justified that China should play spoilsport in such a serious matter as terrorism is a scourge which can prove detrimental for one and all and supporting this in any way is unacceptable. It is strange that only one country stood out by coming to the defence of a terrorist and placing a hold on the aforesaid proposal. It has been reported that a spokesperson for China’s mission to the United Nations has said that the delay was done as China needed more time to study the case, which anyone in the diplomatic world can tell about it to be an excuse par excellence, which could not be challenged. The serious allegations against this dreaded terrorist can be gauged by the fact that he has been under US Sanctions since 2010 after the United States accused him of urging Pakistanis to engage in terror activities and organize suicide attacks in India. He was also accused of being involved in the planning and execution of numerous terror attacks, including the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft in Afghanistan’s Kandhar, the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and the 2016 attack on the Indian air force base in Pathankot. The role which China is playing in this whole gamut is not in the interest of world community and therefore the Dragon nation should revisit his policy in dealing with terrorism as maintaining friendship with Pakistan is different thing but supporting terrorists in any way is not at all a sane decision and therefore China needs to think once again.