China avoids Azhar ban issue after BRICS declaration names JeM
September 04, 2017 18:40
China today parried questions on any change in its stand of blocking Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar's banning by the UN, even as the declaration of the BRICS Summit for the first time named the terror outfit along with other Pakistan-based groups for spreading violence in the region.
A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked moves to ban Azhar under the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council.
"On participating in international campaign against terrorism, our position is consistent and firm," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing, commenting on the strong stand taken by BRICS countries, including China, by naming Pakistan-based terror outfits among
those spreading violence in the region.
He, however, skirted a direct response to a question on whether the naming of JeM by the BRICS in which China is a prominent member marks a change in Beijing's stand of opposing the ban against Azhar, who heads the group.
"I have not seen the BRICS joint declaration and don't know the specific content," Geng said.
"On the counter terrorism cooperation among the BRICS countries, we are very satisfied with the achievements made by the BRICS. We have a working group on terrorism," he said.
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