China's hold on Masood Azhar's (above) listing as UN designated terrorist is set to lapse. (File)
The technical hold imposed by China on India's bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the United Nations is going to end in the next 10 days - which means that India's bid could stand passed automatically, unless Beijing objects again.
In March this year, China - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - had blocked an application moved by India and co-sponsored by United States, United Kingdom and France to place sanctions on the JeM chief.
China had sought a technical hold on India's application seeking more time, and could do the same again allowing the technical hold to continue. However sources said that in the present "growing crescendo against terrorism" it will be difficult for China to "stand-up alone" and block the application.
JeM was designated as a terror group in 2001 itself by the United Nations however its chief has managed to evade sanctions. In June, India's permanent representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin had said at a Security Council meeting that if was an "anomaly" that terrorist groups are proscribed under the sanctions regime, but the group's main leader, financier and motivator remains free.
India has previously slammed the UN sanctions committee for taking a "selective approach" in tackling terrorism when the technical hold was put on its application to include Masood Azhar's name on the list of designated terrorists.
India had submitted a detailed dossier on Masood Azhar and moved the UN Security Council - Committee 1267 - following the January 2 Pathankot attacks. In March, India's submission was considered by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate for technical aspects of the evidence provided. But an hour before the committee was to announce sanctions on Masood Azhar, China blocked he move.
"Any listing would have to meet the requirements for blacklisting," Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Liu Jieyi said explaining its decision in April.