China today categorically dismissed allegations of double standards by India by blocking its bid to list Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the United Nations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that Beijing had adopted a ‘just, objective and professional attitude in deciding the matter’.
"With regard to the listing matter of the security council 1267 committee the so called double standards adopted by China on this relevant issue is not true. We take action based on solid evidence that is the standard upheld by us," the spokesman said.
"We have taken a responsible and constructive part in relevant discussion in a professional and objective way," the spokesman added.
Geng Shuang further said that the purpose of technical hold on the matter is to ‘create enough time for the committee and relevant parties to consult with each other’.
The reaction from Beijing comes a day after MoS for External Affairs MJ Akbar said that ‘India expects China to hear the voice of the world, not just voice of New Delhi on terrorism’.
China was the only country among the 15-member 1267 counter terrorism committee of the UN Security Council which has objected to India's application to list Azhar who is accused of masterminding last year’s Pathankot terror attack that left seven Indian security personnel dead.
Earlier in April last year, China had blocked India's move to label the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief a terrorist, a decision that had angered New Delhi which has been trying to convince Beijing to reconsider the decision.
In September, it had extended its decision to put a technical hold on the UN's 1267 Committee declaring Azhar a terrorist by three months.
JeM was listed in the Security Council Committee 1267 list on October 17, 2001 for being associated with the Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities related with terrorism.
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