United Nations: The United States has welcomed the addition of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to the United Nations 1267 ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions list.
“The United States welcomes the addition of Masood Azhar to the UN 1267 ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions list,” a statement by a spokesperson for the US Mission in the UN said on Wednesday.
The statement stated, “This listing 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.”
It added JeM is a UN-designated terrorist organization, and Azhar, as the founder and chief of the JeM, clearly met with all criteria for its designation by the UN sanction committee.
“The JEM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a serious threat to regional stability and peace. We appreciate Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stated commitment that Pakistan, for the sake of its own future, will not allow the operation of militant and terrorist groups from its territory,” the statement read.
The statement added the US recognized initial actions taken by the Pakistan government in this regard, looking forward to sustained and further actions from Islamabad as “outlined in its national action plan”, as well as, its international obligations.
The UN sanction committee has on Wednesday designated JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, after China, reportedly, removed its objection to Azhar’s listing.
India has been long seeking this development since 2016, but the latest effort came post-Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 44 CRPF personnel. The suicide bombing was claimed by Pakistan backed and based JeM chief Azhar.
Also read: UN designates JeM’ Masood Azhar as ‘global terrorist’ as China removes its objection