New Delhi: Reacting directly for the first time after China vetoed the UN Security Council’s proposal to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and rejecting claims it was a diplomatic failure by India, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Friday that the proposal had been supported by a whopping 14 of the 15 UN Security Council members, and that the situation now was in total contrast to 2009, when under the UPA government, India was “alone”. Ms Swaraj noted that the proposal was first moved in 2009 by India, then under the UPA government, as a “lone proposer”, adding that in 2019, under the current NDA government, India now had “worldwide support”.
Ms Swaraj’s statement is seen as a jibe at the Congress and other Opposition parties in India ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. National security and a tough posture on terrorism are among the key poll planks of the NDA.
In a series of tweets, Ms Swaraj said: “I wish to apprise you of the facts regarding (the) listing of Masood Azhar under the United Nations Sanctions Committee. The proposal has been mooted four times. In 2009, India under the UPA government was the lone proposer. In 2016, India’ proposal was co-sponsored by USA, France and UK. In 2017, USA, UK and France moved the proposal. In 2019, the proposal was moved by USA, France and UK and supported by 14 of the 15 UN Security Council members and also co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan — non-members of the Security Council.”
Ms Swaraj added: “Thus we have secured unprecedented support from the international community for listing of Masood Azhar under the UN Sanctions Committee. I have shared these facts with you so that leaders who describe this as our diplomatic failure may see for themselves that in 2009, India was alone. In 2019, India has worldwide support.”
Despite India’s efforts to convince it, China has been steadfast in blocking the proposal at the UNSC in an action that is seen as support for its “all-weather” friend Pakistan.
