Sushma denies diplomatic failure over Masood Azhar

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Friday said that China’s blocking of a proposal to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was not a “diplomatic failure” on the Indian government’s part.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday hit out at the Congress over its allegation that China blocking the bid to name Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" was a diplomatic failure of the Narendra Modi government, saying the proposal was mooted four times but India could get worldwide support only in 2019.

She took to Twitter to counter the opposition's charge and said India secured unprecedented support from the international community for listing Masood Azhar under the UN Sanctions Committee.

"I wish to apprise you of the facts regarding 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's proposal was co-sponsored by USA, France and UK. In 2017, USA, UK and France moved the proposal," she said in a series of tweets.

Swaraj said in 2019, the proposal was moved by the 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.

"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," she said.

The opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi had criticised the government after China blocked the naming of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.

Gandhi had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi "weak" and "scared" of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Weak Modi is scared of Xi. Not a word comes out of his mouth when China acts against India.

NaMo's China Diplomacy: 1. Swing with Xi in Gujarat 2. Hug Xi in Delhi 3. Bow to Xi in China," Gandhi said on Twitter.

On Wednesday, the UN Sanctions Committee could not come to a decision on naming the JeM chief as a global terrorist after China put the proposal on hold. India expressed its disappointment at the outcome.