The Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin had today announced today that the dreaded terrorist and the founder of the Jaish-e-Muhammad terror outfit, Masood Azhar has been officially designated as a global terrorist on the United Nations Sanctions List.
Masood Azhar’s listing in the United Nation’s list of the global terrorists is considered a remarkable feat as India had been trying for over a decade to conscript Azhar in the UN terror list. Being an all-weather ally of Pakistan, China had consistently stalled India’s move to designate Azhar as a global terrorist by using its ‘veto’ in the UNSC and citing a trivial ‘technical snag’ to indefinitely delay his listing.
With Azhar finally being listed on the UN Sanctions List, many have hailed PM Modi’s adept foreign diplomacy and the BJP government’s relentless efforts in getting the JeM chief banned. However, this hasn’t gone down well with the usual suspects who are left red-faced after the momentous diplomatic victory scored by PM Modi. ‘Neutral’ journalists and assorted public celebrities who were until yesterday calling it Modi’s failure in getting Azhar listed are suddenly disparaging the Indian government’s achievement.
Some of them who had earlier said that India had ‘reduced’ interest in raising Masood Azhar issue with China were quick to admonish journalists celebrating the UN listing saying that his listing won’t bring him back to Indian Jails and there’s nothing to celebrate.
So apparently Modi Govt now has reduced interest in raising Masood Azhar issue with China. Very nationalistic. https://t.co/hwDtexxs4w
— Krishan Partap Singh (@RaisinaSeries) December 11, 2017
Dear journos, please do ask Doval if this UN listing of Masood Azhar means the terror mastermind will return to an Indian jail where he was before the NDA & Doval released him in 1999. If not, what the heck are we celebrating? A piece of paper?
— Krishan Partap Singh (@RaisinaSeries) May 1, 2019
Another journalist, Harinder Baweja held BJP responsible for bringing suicide bombing to India after escorting Azhar to freedom. With India tightening its noose around Azhar with his global listing, Baweja tried to downplay Indian government’s feat by asserting that ‘True Victory’ will mean when Pakistan acts stringent action against Masood Azhar.
Lest youve forgotten, the BJP freed terrorists in Kandahar. Suicide bombing came to India only after that, when Masood Azhar started Jaish e Mohammad after being escorted to freedom… #Facts https://t.co/mJPdMWUDLM
— Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) November 27, 2018
True victory can only come when Pakistan takes steps against Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed and thats not happening in a hurry. They are the assets of the army and the ISI https://t.co/QDgJ3Yb1FK
— Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) May 1, 2019
Self-proclaimed Professor and an avowed Congress supporter, Ashok Swain earlier censured the government for displaying ‘hubris’ and moving the proposal without taking in confidence Russia and China. However, after India got Azhar finally blacklisted, Swain seemed to belittle this achievement by crediting ‘Easter Attacks’ in Sri Lanka responsible for China to change its stance on Azhar’s listing. However, only Ashok Swain can explain how Azhar is related to the attacks in Sri Lanka.
Has Indian Diplomacy lost it power to analyze or just blindly following Modi’s whims? Blacklisting Masood Azhar will not give anything, but for this, India has already lost its diplomatic capitals 4 times. Simply hubris to move the proposal without the support of China & Russia. https://t.co/9CymQ0hXId
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) March 13, 2019
China has agreed to do this after Easter Bombing in Sri Lanka – Nothing to do with Modi’s hugging.
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) May 1, 2019
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath went a step ahead and suggested that there is a motive behind blacklisting Azhar during the elections in India. He noted that the decision came during the elections, but he does not know if this has something to do with the elections, indirectly implying that the UNSC sanctions committee may have taken the decision to benefit BJP.
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath on UNSC listing #MasoodAzhar as a Global Terrorist: It was long due, it is good that it has been done. This should have happened a long time ago. This has happened during elections, I don’t know if this has something to do with the elections. pic.twitter.com/nYmmUEIENS
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2019
It is but natural to see the usual suspects getting apprehensive about India’s diplomatic win to secure Azhar’s listing on the UN Sanctions List. They, perhaps, fear that this development will immensely benefit PM Modi in the remaining 3 phases of the elections left and shore up his Nationalistic credentials. This explains why they are downplaying India’s achievement and contending that such a move wouldn’t be beneficial to India.
