China given info on Jaish chief

Despite New Delhi providing detailed information to Beijing about Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar’s involvement in terrorist activities against India, China remains adamant. HT Correspondents report.

Despite New Delhi providing detailed information to Beijing about Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar’s involvement in terrorist activities against India, China remains adamant.

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Fresh information about Azhar’s terror links was provided to Beijing during the 13th round of the India-China border talks held here last week where National Security Adviser MK Narayanan met Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo.

India wants Azhar to be proscribed by the United Nations Security Council. While all other members of the council have vouched their support, China is the lone dissenter.

Azhar is one of the three terrorists freed by India in exchange for hostages of Air India plane IC-814, hijacked in December 1999. Bingguo, sources said, cited “technical” reasons for not supporting the ban on him.

India also requested that the two Lashkar-e-Tayyeba men — Azam Cheema (accused in the Mumbai train blasts) and Abdul Rehman Makki — be proscribed under the UN’s “Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions” resolution (1267).

A ban under the resolution means freezing of assets, travel ban and embargo on arms.