India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj have on Friday held a telephonic conversation with French foreign minister Le Drian, where Drian informed Swaraj about France taking initiatives to impose financial sanctions over Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit chief Masood Azhar.
According to ANI news reports, Swaraj thanked Drian’s steadfast support and stated India is looking forward to continuing country’s cooperation on anti-terrorism issue.
In a statement, MEA said: “French Foreign Minister also informed that France has
raised this issue with the European Union. He reiterated that France has always been and will always be on India’s side in the fight against terrorism.”
The statement further added, “This action on the part of France was an expression of partnership with India and was in consonance with the global intent by responsible nations committed to fighting against terror, including cross-border terrorism anywhere in the world.”
Earlier, India has welcomed France’s decision of freezing assets of Azhar in the country by imposing sanctions.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar took it to twitter and said, “We welcome the decision was taken by France to sanction Masood Azhar, Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based & UN proscribed terrorist organisation; and responsible for the Pulwama terrorist attack.”
Telephonic conversation between EAM @SushmaSwaraj French Foreign Minister @JY_LeDrian on
action taken by France to sanction Masood Azhar, Chief of the UN proscribed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammedhttps://t.co/7ZAbjmHW1C pic.twitter.com/ceg2FAjN7a— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 15, 2019
A released statement issues by France has noted that the country has decided to sanction Masood Azhar “at the national level by freezing his assets in the application of the Monetary and Financial conduct”.
It added, “A joint decree of the ministries of the interior, and economy and finance was published today in the official gazette.”
It said, “We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in the terrorist act, based on this decree.”