Will China block UN action against Masood Azhar again?

Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar will reportedly stand banned by 3 pm on March 13 if no objection is raised by any member state of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

The proposal to designate the chief of the Pakistan-based terrorist group was moved by US, UK and France after the Pulwama suicide bombing, for which JeM claimed responsibility.

This is the fourth time that a proposal has been moved against Masood Azhar since the Pathankot attack. In all the past instances, it was China that put a "technical hold" on the proposal. According to sources, Beijing contends that there isn't enough evidence or information to link Masood Azhar to the already UN-proscribed outfit JeM.

India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asoke Mukherjee, explained the process. "If the silence period during which any member of the Security Council can raise objection[s] expires on 13 March then Masood Azhar will be included in the 1267 Sanctions List. This is endorsed by the Council after the Sanctions Committee puts him in the List," he said.

Members of the Sanctions Committee and the Security Council are the same 15 countries.

"All that a member state has to do is fax or send a letter of objection to the Council. There is no meeting that will be held for this. If there is no objection then after 3 pm Azhar will automatically stand banned or listed which will be followed by a press release from the Council. But, if a technical hold is put on the proposal then there will be no formal announcement of the same," said an official privy to the process.