On the 1st of May, the United Nations (UN) added Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish e Mohammad (JeM,) to its list of global terrorists. The move came hours after China finally lifted its objections to the move
China finally agreed to list Azhar as a terrorist after stalling the move for close to ten years and after finally listening to Pakistan’s request on lifting the ban. While blacklisting Azhar, the UN accused Azhar of participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing and perpetrating acts of terrorism.
As per the terms of the blacklist, a travel ban, arms embargo and assets freeze will be levied on Azhar. According to the terms of the assets ban, all states should immediately freeze all funds being given to Azhar. Furthermore, any other financial assets or economic resources given to the individual should be stopped effective immediately.
Azhar founded JeM in the year 2000, shortly after being released from an Indian prison. By the year 2001, JeM was already listed as a terrorist group by the UN. Responding to the move to blacklist Azhar, Pakistan said it will immediately stop giving any kind of help to Pakistan and will adhere to all the sanctions imposed on Azhar by the UN.
When JeM took responsibility for the Pulwama attacks, tensions started soaring between India and Pakistan, resulting in severe gunfire between the countries.
Stay tuned for more updates.
