New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) In a big diplomatic blow to Islamabad after aerial surgical strikes on terrorist breeding camps at Balakot deep inside Pakistan, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday placed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in its sanctions list freezing his assets, imposing a travel ban and an arms embargo.
Beijing had indicated on Tuesday a reversal of its stance on Azhar's designation as a global terrorist.
The UNSC listing stipulates that all states will freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources. According to an Indian government source, the move has in the ultimate
analysis left Pakistan "completely isolated".
"It's clear, even its longtime friend and protector China seems to have left Pakistan in the lurch," the source said.
India has been trying since 2009 to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.
Better late than never
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the UN body move saying the development of the international community is a "matter of satisfaction"."Dere aye durust aye," Mr Modi said at an election rally.
He used the occasion to slam Manmohan Singh regime saying a few years ago, even cabinet ministers did not bother about what the then Prime Minister was saying.
"Today the voice of 130 crore people of India matters. It is being heard. This is the New India," the Prime Minister asserted.
"Today, India's voice cannot be undermined....This is just the beginning," Mr Modi said.
Notorious past
Azhar has had a notorious past and after he was released by the Vajpayee government on December 31, 1999 in exchange of passengers held hostage after the Kandhar hijack, he was easily latched on by the ISI and other stake holders in the Jehadi circle and helped to float Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000.
''The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of [Masood Azhar] to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List," the UN committee said.
India had been making persistent efforts to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and the latest move came after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, claimed by JeM, on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force which killed 40 personnel.
India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the U.N. Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: ''Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in U.N. Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.''
The Bharatiya Janata Party tried to make use of the momentous occasion and linked the event to its election slogan 'Modi hae toh Mumkin hae'.
High point
Senior Minister Arun Jaitley said the move by the world body "marks a high point for the Prime Minister’s foreign policy".
"India stands vindicated. Masood Azar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands," he tweeted.
The saffron party's official Twitter handle in no time gave the credit to Prime Minister and posted a missive: It's possible only with Modi" - a ready reference to one of its campaign line during the ongoing elections.
"India has attained a historic success against terrorists. UN Security Council's Pulwama terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar declared as an international terrorist. It's possible because of Modi," the missive said in Hindi.
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