How India and other nations lauded designation of Masood Azhar as 'global terrorist' by UN

The United Nation Security Council’s decision to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” was welcomed not only India, but also by several other nations.

Here is how India and other nations responded to New Delhi’s huge diplomatic victory:

India

“Big,small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support,” tweeted India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin.

"The 1267 Sanctions Committee’s decision to designate the leader of JeM, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers. We welcome the decision," the MEA said in a statement.

"This is in accordance with India’s position & in line with the information that India has shared with the members of the Sanctions Committee regarding terrorist activities of Masood Azhar & JeM," the statement added.

"India will continue with its efforts through international forums to ensure that terrorist organizations and their leaders who cause harm to our citizens are brought to justice," the MEA statement read. 

The BJP credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the United Nations designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist", saying India is in safe hands under him.

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"India stands vindicated. Masood Azhar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands. This marks a high point for the prime minister's foreign policy," senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

Calling it a "historic success" for India, the BJP used one of its Lok Sabha election slogans, 'Modi hai to mumkin hai' (It is possible if Modi is there), as it reacted to what is being seen as a major diplomatic win for the country.

France

France was the first to welcome Azhar’s listing as global terrorist, saying that the decision signalled the successful realisation of efforts to ban him.

"For many years now, French diplomacy has been relentlessly pleading for sanctioning Mr Azhar, head of the terrorist group responsible, notably, for the Pulwama attack last February," a spokesperson of France's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said.

The official said, "This decision taken at the United Nations Security Council signals the successful realisation of our efforts."

United States

The US welcomed the designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the UN and sought "sustained actions" from Pakistan against terrorism, consistent with its international obligations.

A spokesperson for the US Mission in UN told PTI, "The US welcomes the addition of Masood Azhar to the UN 1267 ISIL and al-Qaida Sanctions list, which requires all UN member states to implement an assets freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against Azhar."

"We expect all countries to uphold these obligations," the spokesperson said, noting that the Jaish-e Mohammed is a United Nations-designated terrorist group, and Azhar, as the founder and leader of JEM, clearly met the criteria for designation by the world body."

In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations Wednesday designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him.

China said that it took the decision after it found no objection to the listing proposal by the US, the UK and France following a careful study of the revised materials.

United Kingdom

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the UN Security Council's designation of the head of the Pakistan-based terror group chief as a global terrorist was a positive development for the South Asian region.

The listing of Masood Azhar, leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, is very welcome and long overdue," an FCO spokesperson said.

"The UK has consistently called for this action to be taken, and we worked closely with our international partners to ensure the right result. This is a positive development for the security and stability of the South Asia region," the spokesperson noted.