On Azhar’s Listing as Global Terrorist, India’s Strategy Is to Be ‘Patient’ With China

France, the UK and the US and reportedly discussing a possible “compromise” with Beijing.

Washington/New Delhi: Even as three permanent UN Security Council members are reportedly in discussions with China for a “compromise” on the designation of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”, India remains reluctant to push China publicly, with sources in New Delhi stating that the current strategy is to be “patient” with Beijing.

On March 13, China put a ‘hold’ on the proposal moved initially by France, the UK and the US to list the JeM chief with the 1267 sanctions committee. India had expressed “disappointment”, but did not rebuke Beijing. Neither did the official statement name China.

This was in contrast to the previous instances in 2016 and 2017, when India had named China and also raised questions about “double standards” by Beijing.

This time, the policy – perhaps an outcome of the reluctance to disturb the positive vibes in Sino-Indian relations post the Wuhan summit – has been not to ‘name and shame’ China.

Indian government sources said that New Delhi was going to be “patient” with China for “as long as it takes” for Beijing to “sort out its issues” with Pakistan.

This approach was also cryptically alluded to by India’s permanent representative to United Nations in New York, Syed Akbaruddin, in a tweet.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that the plan of action for the US, UK and France was also to move a resolution for Azhar’s listing preceded by an open debate on the issue – if a ‘compromise’ was not reached with China.

While the internal consultations of the Security Council committee remain private, this time several Council members are apparently frustrated at China’s unreasonable stance to protect a terrorist, privately spoke to the media the negative role being played by Beijing.

In the last 50 hours, it is believed that the original sponsors of the Azhar resolution are having intense “good faith” consultations with China on what many familiar with the matter describe as a “compromise”. This probably means Azhar would be designated as a global terrorist by the UN body, but the language of designation would include a language acceptable to China.

China is believed to have suggested “certain changes” in the language of the terrorist designation. The US, Britain and France are believed to be currently looking at the suggestions.

Also read: France Freezes Assets of Jaish-E-Mohammed Leader Masood Azhar

It is understood that there is a back-and-forth exchange of texts on the matter.

The three countries have indicated that they are willing to accommodate Chinese request for changes in the language as long as it does not change the substance of the resolution and it ends up designating Azhar as a UN global terrorist.

But unlike in the past, the US, France, Britain and other members of the Security Council are not willing to wait for long to conclude their discussion with China.

It is learnt that China has been informed by these countries that they are seriously looking for other options, in particular an open debate followed by a vote on a resolution to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, pretty soon.

Not months, not weeks but days. This is what Beijing has been conveyed.

At the same time, officials of these countries believe that China this time has been much more co-operative than in the past. But in case at any point the three countries get a feeling that China is not doing a good faith negotiation on the “compromise formula” that is being negotiated, they are ready with the other move.

China, after its decision to put a technical hold on the resolution, has invited criticism and its stance has also resulted in an outrage in India.

Beijing would have to calculate the risk of being isolate globally on the issue of fight against terrorism or signing off to a compromised language that would designate Azhar as a global terrorist, since except China, all other UNSC members supported the resolution.

Getting Chinese support to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, at the UN, in any format, would be considered as a terrific accomplishment. The very fact that there has been discussions going on between China and the US, Britain and France, is considered as a positive development.

Those familiar with China’s working pattern are still not confident and that’s the reason why they are seriously working on other options including an open debate in the Security Council, where Beijing might find it difficult to defend a terrorist in public.

(With PTI inputs)