China Blocks India from Updating UNSCR 1267
In an interview to The Economic Times India’s Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna has disclosed that China has placed a “technical hold” on the inclusion of Maulana Massod Azar in the “Consolidated List of the 1267 Committee of the United Nations”. This list is setup and maintained by the United Nations. The list includes individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Osama Bin Laden.
Once a name is added to the list, UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1267) states that member states should: A) Freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources, including funds derived from property owned or controlled directly or indirectly, B) prevent the entry into or the transit through their territories and C) prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related material, including military and paramilitary equipment, technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities.
Maulana Massod Azar is one of the most wanted terrorists in India. He is a Pakistani citizen and the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed which is a terrorist group based in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). He was arrested by Indian authorities in 1994 but was released in 1999 in exchange for passengers after his brother; Ibrahim Athar hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC814 to Kandahar (Afghanistan). His group has claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks including the high profile attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001 (after the parliament attacks he was arrested by never charged by Pakistan). According to Pakistani officials his current whereabouts are unknown. Really?
Azar is also the mentor and a close associate of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh who is the prime suspect in the kidnapping and beheading of American citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. During the interrogations both Azar and Sheikh have admitted to ties to terrorist groups in Yemen and Sudan that in turn have close relationships with Al-Qaeda.
There are close to 500 individuals and groups on the list. So why is China so eager to prevent India from adding a notorious terrorist to the United Nations watch list? The answer is very simple. It is acting to protect the interests of Pakistan. Policies such as these do not bode well for a country like China that is trying to gain respect and in the process of becoming an economic and military power. With wealth and power comes responsibility. It is very unfortunate that China in this case is willing to put its interest’s vis-à-vis Pakistan over its interest’s vis-à-vis India and against its own self interest.
China has a large Muslim population (estimates vary from 20 million to 100 million). There is a significant Muslim population in the provinces of Xingjian, Gansu and Ningxia and many of these areas have seen unrest and protests inspired by what is going on in neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan and certain Central Asian republics (at least nine members of Uighur minority have been executed by China recently for participating in the Xingjian riots last summer). In recent past China has also had meetings with Pakistan to discuss the “activities” of Uighurs and Uzbeks based in the Afghanistan – Pakistan border.
There is no question that in the long term the economic relationship between India and China will force China to rethink its relationship with Pakistan. In 2008 China was India’s largest trading partner. India on the other hand is China’s tenth largest export destination. Chinese exports to India are growing at a faster pace than with any other country. It is time for China to de-link its relationship between India and Pakistan and allow this relationship to reach its natural potential (this is exactly what the Americans did under President Bush and the relationship between the US and India has grown dynamically since).
It is also time for China to grow up and act like a responsible leader.
Related posts:
- Time for India to Rethink its China Policy
- India in a Tough Spot in Afghanistan
- Pakistani Experience Relevent Against China
- Lessons India Should Learn From Pakistan
- India and China: Contest or Friendship of the Century?
Category: News & Government
We can only make statements without any action.
In this day of supremacy, there is no room for weak people.
China can get away with any action .
Can we at least respond properly??