The United Nations Security Council’s 1267 Committee declared Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief, Masood Azhar, a designated global terrorist on May 2, 2019. Interestingly, the Pulwama attack which took place on February 14 and was claimed by JeM was not mentioned as a reason for this sanction against Azhar.
Why Azhar was Sanctioned
Azhar’s ongoing support for JeM since its establishment was one of the main reasons behind the sanction. Additionally, his association with Al-Qaeda, characterized by recruiting for them and participating in terror acts, also added to the rationale. Azhar played a role in recruiting fighters in Afghanistan as well. Furthermore, the 1267 Committee had sanctioned JeM, the terrorist organization led by Azhar, back in 2001.
Past Attempts to Designate Azhar a Global Terrorist
India has made previous attempts to designate Azhar a global terrorist. In 2009, they made a proposal for the designation, and in 2016 they moved the proposal again with support from the P3 countries – the U.S., the U.K. and France. The P3 nations again moved a similar proposal in 2017. However, on all these occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked the proposal. After the Pulwama attack, the P3 group co-sponsored a listing request in February, but once again, China placed a hold on the request.
Breaking the Veto: How the Sanctions Succeeded
Following these failed attempts, the U.S. decided to circulate a draft resolution directly among the UNSC members. This move was made to pressure China into supporting the listing or risk being seen as a supporter of terrorism. This strategy was successful and China did not raise any objections, allowing the sanctions against Masood Azhar to proceed.
| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 2009 | India proposed to designate Masood as a global terrorist |
| 2016 | India with P3 countries moved the proposal again |
| 2017 | P3 nations moved a similar proposal again |
| 2019 | The UNSC listed Azhar as a Global Terrorist |
Implications of the UNSC Listing
The designation of Azhar as a global terrorist by the UNSC is seen as a victory for India in its decade-long diplomatic battle against terrorism. The U.S., UK, and France have supported this cause at the UNSC. In consequence of this designation, Azhar will be subjected to an asset freeze, travel ban, and an arms embargo, which will restrict his activities globally.
UNSC Committee 1267: An Overview
The UNSC Committee was established in 1999 under Resolution 1267, imposing a limited air embargo and asset freeze on the Taliban. Over the years, the measures evolved into a targeted asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo against designated individuals and entities. As of June 17, 2011, the Committee was divided into two: the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and a separate committee for those associated with the Taliban. On December 17, 2015, the UNSC adopted resolution 2253 (2015) to expand the listing criteria to include individuals and entities supporting the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Committee currently consists of all 15 members of the Security Council and decides by consensus. As of 2019, the Committee is chaired by Indonesia, with the Russian Federation and Peru serving as vice-chairs.