Masood Azhar: Jaish-e-Mohammed leader listed as terrorist by UN

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

China dropped its hold on blocking resolution against Massod Azhar. He is now listed terrorist by UN.
I hope, this move will bring more peace in region.

The UN has designated the leader of a militant group behind a deadly bomb attack that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war as a terrorist.

Masood Azhar is the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which carried out a suicide bombing in February killing 40 troops in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The UN move comes after China dropped its objection to the listing. India hailed it as a diplomatic victory.

Masood Azhar will be subject to an assets freeze and a travel ban.

“Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in @UN Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support,” Syed Akbaruddin, India’s ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted.

The Pakistani said it would immediately enforce the sanctions, but also took aim at India.

“Pakistan maintains that terrorism is a menace to the world, including the Indian state-sponsored terrorism against innocent Kashmiris,” foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said.

He added that it would be false to present the development as a “victory for India and validation of its stance”.

The proposal had been brought forward by the US, Britain and France after the Kashmir attacks - the deadliest in the disputed region during a 30-year-long insurgency.

The attack worsened tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India, with war temporarily appearing a real possibility.

China - a long-time ally of Pakistan - had previously blocked the sanctions committee from imposing sanctions on Masood Azhar in 2016 and 2017 but agreed to the proposal on Wednesday. What is JeM?
Jaish-e-Mohammad literally means the Army of Mohammad.

Masood Azhar founded the group after he was released by India in 1999, one of three men set free in exchange for the crew and passengers of an Indian Airlines plane hijacked and flown to then Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/96C3/production/_105659583_052344570.jpg

Masood Azhar reportedly met the former Taliban leader Mullah Omar and al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden when he was in the country.

India blame JeM for an attack on its parliament in Delhi in December 2001 - a claim JeM denies.

JeM was officially banned in Pakistan soon after that attack, but the group still operates, sometimes using the names Afzal Guru Squad, Al-Murabitoon and Tehreek-al-Furqan.

India has also blamed JeM for an attack on an airbase near the Pakistani border in January 2016, which left three security forces dead.

JeM commander Noor Mohammad Tantray was killed by Indian forces in 2017, which was seen as a massive blow to the organisation.

But the violence did not abate, and many analysts believe the group still enjoys support from members of the Pakistani intelligence services.

JeM has however attacked Pakistani military targets and even made an attempt on then-leader Pervez Musharraf’s life in 2003.

2

Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi
In accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 1822 (2008) and subsequent related resolutions, the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

QDi.422
Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi
Date on which the narrative summary became available on the Committee’s website:
1 May 2019
Reason for listing:

Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi was listed on 1 May 2019 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 (2017) as being associated with Al-Qaida for ?participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of?, ?supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material to?, ?recruiting for?, ?otherwise supporting acts or activities of?, and ?other acts or activities indicating association with?:

Jaish-i-Mohammed (QDe.019).

Additional information:

Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi founded Jaish-i-Mohammed (QDe.019) (JEM) upon his release from prison in India in 1999. Azhar was released from prison in exchange for 155 hostages held on an Indian Airlines flight that had been hijacked to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Azhar has also financially supported JEM since its founding.

The UN Security Council listed JEM on October 17, 2001, as being associated with Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden, and the Taliban for ?participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of?, ?supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to? or ?otherwise supporting acts or activities of? Al-Qaida (QDe.004), Usama bin Laden and the Taliban.

Azhar is also a former leader of the terrorist group Harakat ul-Mujahidin / HUM (QDe.008), aka Harakat ul-Ansar; most of these groups’ members subsequently joined JEM under Azhar’s leadership. In 2008, JEM recruitment posters contained a call from Azhar for volunteers to join the fight in Afghanistan against Western forces.

Related listed individuals and entities:

Jaish-i-Mohammed (QDe.019), listed on 17 Oct. 2001

Harakat ul-Mujahidin / HUM (QDe.008), listed on 6 Oct. 2001

https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/mohammad-masood-azhar-alvi

3

It was bound to happen. And I’ve no idea why he is still free. Pakistani govt should distance itself as much as possible from anyone with such tags

4

UN is not court of law… They decide matters under influence of lobbying. UN decisions are influenced based, not justice based. So nah, Masood Azhar should remain free until and unless he is not proven guilty in the court of law. But i agree to that part of your comment where you said that our gov should distance itself from such characters, as we are already surrounded by enemies and we can’t afford to go against the will and wishes of a global gang headed by US and India, bad times!