China Under Pressure to Lift Hold on Masood Azhar Ban: Report

Security Council members may call for a public debate asking China to explain its stand.

Masood Azhar, Chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad 

(Photo: Reuters)

As many as three members of the UN Security Council – US, UK and France – have reportedly asked China to lift its technical hold on the resolution to impose an international ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, by 23 April.

A Times of India report suggests that the three countries have said that another such resolution would be introduced, if China fails to do so.

A parallel resolution has reportedly already been 'circulated informally among 15 member states but not tabled officially' to see if China could be persuaded to change its stance.

However, China does not seem to be relenting so far. Depending upon China's response, the decision on the new resolution will be taken, the TOI report says.

The report also says that the member nations can call for a public debate asking China to explain its stand.

Following the 14 February Pulwama attack, fresh initiatives were taken by the US and France to impose the ban on Azhar. However, China for the fourth time, sought to block his listing by the 1267 committee of UN by putting the proposed ban on what it describes as a technical hold.