New Delhi: The Pakistani and Chinese press Thursday downplayed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s blacklisting by the United Nations, with a Pakistani newspaper stating that India’s claims of victory are “unfounded and false”.
Pakistan-based Azhar was designated a global terrorist Wednesday after China lifted its ‘technical hold’ on a proposal to blacklist him under the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee.
ThePrint looks at the media coverage of this development in both countries.
Pakistani newspapers
Almost all Pakistani newspapers carried comments of the country’s Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal saying that the earlier UNSC proposals were “aimed at maligning Pakistan” and thus “rejected by Pakistan” as it linked the JeM chief with the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Dawn: In its headline, Dawn stuck to bare facts: “JeM chief Masood Azhar added to UN terror list after China removes objections”.
“India had been seeking Azhar’s listing since 2016, but the latest push came after the Feb 14 Pulwama attack on the Central Reserve Police Force in India-held Kashmir, which was claimed by the JeM,” it said.
The newspaper quoted Dr Faisal’s remarks extensively: “Pakistan will immediately enforce the sanctions” imposed on the JeM leader “as it always does with UN” cases.
“Earlier proposals to list Masood Azhar failed to generate the requisite consensus in the Sanctions Committee as the information did not meet its technical criteria. These proposals were aimed at maligning Pakistan and the legitimate struggle of the people of Indian occupied Kashmir…and were thus rejected by Pakistan,” Faisal wrote.
The News International: In “UNSC lists Masood Azhar as global terrorist”, the newspaper wrote, “The United Nations listed on Wednesday proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar among banned individuals on its global terror list, placing a restriction on foreign travel, arms embargo and freezing of assets.”
The newspaper also mentioned, “Past governments had proscribed him under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for some time, even before his case for listing was taken up by the Sanctions Committee. Neither Pakistan nor China as in the past objected to the India-sponsored proposal at the United Nations on Wednesday.”
Pakistan Observer: “UNSC designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist, China withdraws its opposition after consultations with Pakistan” is the newspaper’s headline.
It also quoted Faisal — “India is presenting this new development as its victory and confirmation of its narrative, but these claims are unfounded and false”. He said recent proposals to list Azhar were “motivated by Pulwama attack and aimed at undermining the legitimate freedom movement in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.”
Chinese newspapers
South China Morning Post: The Hong Kong-based newspaper in its headline wrote:
“China backs UN blacklist of leader of Pakistan-based militants, ending a decade of opposition”.
The newspaper added, “Beijing’s decision, ending a decade of opposition, came after India stepped up diplomatic efforts to convince the Chinese government that Azhar should be labelled a terrorist following a deadly terror attack in the disputed territory of Kashmir in February.”
Global Times: The tabloid carried the statement of its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang: “The 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council has detailed criteria for the listing procedures. China always believes that the relevant work should be carried out in an objective, unbiased and professional manner and based on solid evidence and consensus among all parties.”
Shuang added, “On this listing issue, China has been communicating with relevant parties in a constructive and responsible fashion. Recently, relevant countries revised and re-submitted the materials for the listing proposal to the 1267 Committee.”
The tabloid also quoted Shuang’s praise for Pakistan: “I would like to stress that Pakistan has made enormous contributions to fighting terrorism, which deserves the full recognition of the international community. China will continue to firmly support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorist and extremist forces.”