China dispels hopes of early breakthrough on NSG

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...of-stance-on-Masood-Azhar/article16975266.ece

A blog by Mao Siwei, China’s former Consul General in Kolkata on his WeChat account, elaborately argued for a course correction by China on the Azhar issue.
Beijing Shortly before the Chinese government decided to block the India-backed listing of Masood Azhar, the head the Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammad group on a UN terror roll, a senior former Chinese diplomat had argued vigorously for a turnaround in Beijing’s position. A blog by Mao Siwei, China’s former Consul General in Kolkata on his WeChat account, elaborately argued for a course correction by China on the Azhar issue, signaling that on the question of terrorism, an internal debate maybe brewing within the establishment on China’s undiluted support to Pakistan. India has sought a UN ban on the head of the JeM chief following last year’s attack on the Pathankot air base.

The former diplomat highlighted that the problem of Masood Azhar has become “a major issue that impacts China-India relations, and also constitutes the major element of the decline in the China and India relations in 2016”. Mr. Mao, while backing special ties with Pakistan , does point to the necessity for establishing some markers that slamabad should recognise in its dealings with Beijing. “China cherishes the strategic partnership with our iron brother, but please do not stir up issues,” he says, while explaining the positive fallout on Islamabad, New Delhi and the rest of world, in case China did not stand in the way of Azhar’s inclusion in the UN 1276 committee list. In 1999, the Security Council passed resolution 1267, in a bid to impose sanctions on Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan

In his article, Mr. Mao has focused on the timing and implications of the Pathankot attack, in derailing the possible restart of an Indo-Pak rapprochement. He points out the attack took place after a week of Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s unexpected Christmas call in Lahore on his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif’s birthday and granddaughter’s wedding, which could have reignited a peace process between New Delhi and Islamabad. The incident successfully stalled a budding rapprochement between the two neighbours.

The former envoy adds citing reports that in the coalition of evidence on the attack presented on December 19 by India’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States had provided crucial support including the Facebook log of the Pakistani handlers of the attack. Besides, Indian intelligence agencies had intercepted phone calls between the gunmen and their relatives.

The writer then records the negative impact of China’ role in the UN 1267 committee, also called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al Qaeda sanctions committee, on Sino-Indian ties. “On February 2016, India applied to the UN Security council that the ISIL and Al Qaeda sanctions committee that the JeM military chief Masood Azhar should be listed in this sanctions list. By the end of March, right before the motion by India came into effect, China stood in between and intervened. Half-a year later China once again stalled this motion due to technical reasons. India, is massively dissatisfied with China’s interventions.”

Mr. Mao points to Masood Azhar’s links to three major events: the circumstances of his arrest in Kashmir in 1994, the killing of five foreign hostages that followed a year later, and his release in 1999 following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, to establish the JeM chief’s undisputable connection with terrorism. He highlights that after his release, India suffered major terror attacks, including the targeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly building in October 2001, which was quickly followed by the infamous parliament attack, bringing India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

Elaborating on China’s role in the UN 1267 committee, Mr. Mao, cited media reports saying that, in the past, China was involved in at least three sanctions cases related to Pakistan.

Pointing to foreign media reports, the former diplomat observed that on two occasions — April 2006 and May 2008 — China stalled proposals by the United States, United Kingdom and France to put Hafez Saeed and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) on the 1267 list, citing insufficient evidence.

However, China did not stop the listing of JuD and its leaders, Hafez Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on the 1267 roll, following the devastating 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai.

Following the listing, Pakistan closed more than 100 JuD offices, arrested more than 50 senior functionaries and imposed travel bans on 11 individuals.

In Mr. Mao’s view, in case Beijing carefully studies and adjusts its position on logging the JeM chief in the 1267 list, it would send a message that “China’s wish for developing a friendly relationship with India is sincere and it attaches great importance to the sentiments of 1.3 billion people”.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nati...ood-back-pursuing-china-on-azhar-rajnath.html

Earlier last year, the Union Home Minister had asserted that Dawood would be nabbed soon and brought to India.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that efforts are on to bring back India's most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim.

"The efforts to bring Dawood Ibrahim are on," Singh said.

Earlier last year, the Union Home Minister had asserted that Dawood would be nabbed soon and brought to India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier reiterated that it will continue to pursue Pakistan to handover Dawood after a television channel claimed that it has tracked his location.

The designated global terrorist's presence in Pakistan was confirmed by the United Nations last year.

Six of nine addresses provided by India were found to be correct by a UN committee.

India is pursuing China to declare Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar an international terrorist, Singh also said.
"We are pursuing China to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar an international terrorist," Singh said.

The Union Home Minister's statement comes just days after Beijing blocked New Delhi's move to list Azhar as a United Nations designated terrorist.

India has accused JeM and its top leader Maulana Masood Azhar of masterminding several attacks including a deadly assault on an Indian Air Base in January last year and sought the UN to put him on the list of designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

The JeM has already been blacklisted by the 15-nation Security Council, but not Azhar.

However, China for the third time since March last year blocked the move last week with its "technical hold".

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chin...rror-india-on-masood-azhar-issue_1964381.html

New Delhi: Days after China blocked India's move to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist, the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday made its stand very clear on Beijing.

Addressing a press conference, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said India wants China to hear the voice of the world and recognise the dangers of terrorism.

"We do expect China to hear the voice of the world on terrorism, not just the voice of India. And the voice of the world is heard over and over again at many fora. I will particularly remember the speech our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ji made at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last year. It was really a high point of UNGA. The central point is to recognise the dangers of terrorism," he said.

“We hope as a responsible and mature nation, China will understand double standards of this self-defeating purpose,” Akbar said when asked about China's stand on Masood Azhar.

The minister added: "China has its own problem of terrorism. China recognises it. China addresses them in bilateral agreements. We hope and are sure that China can be persuaded to see the depth and evil of the menace," Akbar said, adding India will continue to point out "absurdity" of the decision of the 1267 sanctions committee of the UN of not designating Azhar a global terrorist.

Fourteen out of 15 UNSC members want action against Masood Azhar. There is one holdout. We hope this is the year that the holdout disappears, said Akbar said at a joint press conference with his ministerial colleague Gen (retd) VK Singh, while presenting MEA's achievements in the last two-and-half years.

Referring to terror infrastructure as well as the situation in Pakistan, Akbar said there has been instability in that country, adding these are "self-inflicted wounds".

On China's opposition to India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, Singh said the government was engaging with all concerned to make them understand its "concerns" and "credentials", hoping that Beijing will end its resistance.

In April 2016 also, 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 to terrorism".

 

[lonelyman]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chin...rror-india-on-masood-azhar-issue_1964381.html

New Delhi: Days after China blocked India's move to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist, the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday made its stand very clear on Beijing.

Addressing a press conference, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said India wants China to hear the voice of the world and recognise the dangers of terrorism.

"We do expect China to hear the voice of the world on terrorism, not just the voice of India. And the voice of the world is heard over and over again at many fora. I will particularly remember the speech our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ji made at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last year. It was really a high point of UNGA. The central point is to recognise the dangers of terrorism," he said.

“We hope as a responsible and mature nation, China will understand double standards of this self-defeating purpose,” Akbar said when asked about China's stand on Masood Azhar.

The minister added: "China has its own problem of terrorism. China recognises it. China addresses them in bilateral agreements. We hope and are sure that China can be persuaded to see the depth and evil of the menace," Akbar said, adding India will continue to point out "absurdity" of the decision of the 1267 sanctions committee of the UN of not designating Azhar a global terrorist.

Fourteen out of 15 UNSC members want action against Masood Azhar. There is one holdout. We hope this is the year that the holdout disappears, said Akbar said at a joint press conference with his ministerial colleague Gen (retd) VK Singh, while presenting MEA's achievements in the last two-and-half years.

Referring to terror infrastructure as well as the situation in Pakistan, Akbar said there has been instability in that country, adding these are "self-inflicted wounds".

On China's opposition to India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, Singh said the government was engaging with all concerned to make them understand its "concerns" and "credentials", hoping that Beijing will end its resistance.

In April 2016 also, 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 to terrorism".

move on, why we should help you while u harboring dalai - the biggest terrorist in bed with CIA to to all the assassinations

 

[neem456]

move on, why we should help you while u harboring dalai - the biggest terrorist in bed with CIA to to all the assassinations

Then why not move a resoution in UN to declare him a terrorist, we dont even have a veto to veto it.

 

[Hindustani78]

move on, why we should help you while u harboring dalai - the biggest terrorist in bed with CIA to to all the assassinations

The nearly 200,000 Tibetan refugees in India , "We Tibetan refugees, we are all thinking of a return to our own country," said the Dalai Lama who fled to India in 1959.

i think in the 20th round of talks between Republic of India and China which is going to take place in coming months , if the border dispute is settled then Dalai Lama and the tibetan refugees can return back to China.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/fran...lared-as-international-terrorist_1967492.html

New Delhi: Days after China blocked India's proposal in the UN, the world body's key member France has pitched for designating Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist, saying there are "very strong arguments in favour" of such a move.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was on a four-day India visit, also sent out a veiled message to China without naming it, saying "the international community's determination to combat terrorism must be the same everywhere, regardless of the threat."

Pointing out that Azhar's outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad "is already included in the (Sanctions) Committee's list of terrorist organisations", he told PTI in an interview, "therefore, there are very strong arguments in favour of listing its chief, as India has requested".

That's why, he said, France not only supported but also co-sponsored the Indian request at the UNSC.

India had submitted in February last year a proposal to the 15-member 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council to list Azhar as an international terrorist for masterminding the attack on Pathankot Air base.

Since then, China had twice imposed "technical hold" on the Indian proposal and finally on December 30 last, it blocked it, becoming the only country to do so.

"We regret that, despite our joint efforts and wide support from the Committee, unanimity could not be reached," said Ayrault, whose country is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He said France will now discuss with India what should be done. "India knows it can count on our support," he added.

Azhar, a resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan, was one of the three terrorists freed by India in exchange of 166 hostages of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 which was hijacked to Kandahar in December 1999.

Azhar, at that time, belonged to Harkat-ul Mujahideen, and soon after his release, he floated the new outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan which carried out several attacks in India, including on Parliament on December 13, 2001 and Pathankot Air base.

The French Foreign Minister, whose country has faced a number of terror attacks over the last few years, pitched for a "decisive action" against Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen which are "targeting" India.

"France has very firmly condemned the terrorist attacks against India, including the recent one in Uri, and reiterated its full solidarity with India in its combat against terrorism," he said.

Clearly referring to Pakistan without naming it, he emphasised that all countries should fight effectively against terrorism "originating from their territory or territories under their control".

"We particularly want to see decisive action taken, in keeping with international law, against terrorist groups targeting India, particularly the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen," he said.

The French Minister was asked about his views on the surgical strikes carried out by Indian Army in September last to target terror camps based across the LoC in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir.

"Nothing can justify terrorism, which must be fought everywhere with equal determination. When a country is faced with a terrorist threat of this nature, it has the right to defend itself," he replied.

Ayrault also spoke about the scope of cooperation between India and his country in combating terror, the footprint of which is expanding and intensity increasing.
"France and India are both victims of terrorism, and they are in full solidarity vis-?-vis this scourge," he said.

He said the fight against terrorism is one of the cornerstones of India-France strategic partnership.

In concrete terms, he said, France and India hold "constant and very operational exchanges" on the terrorist threat.

"We have a bilateral working group that brings together all the players concerned over counter-terrorism, and, among others, cooperation with regard to investigations and between our respective intervention units, the GIGN from the French side, and the National Security Guards from the Indian side. I welcome the development of all these cooperations," he said.


First Published: Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 21:15

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http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...cked-by-pakistans-isi-ajit-doval_1967364.html

Delhi: Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijackers were actively supported by Pakistan's spy agency ISI, according to national security adviser Ajit Doval.


The Times of India reported Doval as saying that if the Taliban hijackers did not have ISI support, India could have resolved the crisis.

He was one of the negotiators when the Kathmandu-Delhi flight, with 180 passengers and crew on board, was taken over by five hijackers soon after take-off on December 24, 1999.

The crisis ended after terrorists Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Zargar were released.

The NSA has made these comments in 'Defeat is an Orphan: How Pakistan lost the Great South Asian War' - a new book by Myra Macdonald.

There were a lot of Taliban on the tarmac with their weapons. Two ISI men were on the tarmac and others soon joined them. One was a lieutenant colonel and the other a major - Doval was quoted as saying.

"We were getting very good intelligence about all that was happening," he further says in the book, adding, "If these people were not getting active ISI support in Kandahar, we could have got the hijacking vacated. The ISI had removed all the pressure we were trying to put on the hijackers... Normally that is not the way hijackers talk. Normally the biggest fear is how to get out."

Doval describes the three released men as "ISI-sponsored terrorists" in the book written by Macdonald.


First Published: Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 17:01

***************

http://zeenews.india.com/india/outl...ecoming-nsg-member-united-states_1967341.html

Washington: The outgoing Obama Administration has lashed out at China for blocking India from becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group by describing the Communist giant as an "outlier" in its effort to bring New Delhi on board the elite grouping.


"Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China," Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told PTI in an interview.

The US statement comes a week ahead of the Obama Administration passing on the baton to the Trump Administration.

Officials say it is because of the Chinese resistance that India could not become a member of NSG, where all decisions are taken on the basis of consensus.

"The (US) President (Barack Obama) has been very?clear and unequivocal that he believes that India has met the criteria for NSG and that the United States supports India's entry that India is ready and India should be brought into the NSG," she said.

"We worked very closely with India to support India's application into the NSG, but we also recognise that there continue to be some concerns, some reservations that some of the members of the NSG have expressed that need to be worked through," she said.

"We believe we have made substantial progress on that and as we hand the baton over to the next administration the path forward will be found for that. Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China. As we move through all the other elements of the NSG membership, I think, we're on a good path forward," Biswal said.

So what remains is to be able to have a very clear understanding on what is the basis of China's reservations and to try to work through those. So that will be something that would move on to the next administration to carry forward, she said in response to a question.

"But this is something that the President himself has personally engaged on, the Secretary (of State), (National Security Advisor), Ambassador (Susan) Rice and down the line this has been an area of intense effort by this administration," Biswal said.

While India not becoming a NSG member is disappointing, Biswal said the Obama Administration is "very very gratified to see India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)".

China is advocating a two-step "non-discriminatory" approach for admission of countries who have not signed nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in the NSG.

As per the new stand announced by Beijing in November, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT members followed by discussions to admit specific non-NPT member.

China's stand for a non-discriminatory criteria is regarded significant as Pakistan, a close ally of Beijing too has applied for the NSG membership along with India.


First Published: Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 15:44

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indias-nsg-membership-cant-be-farewell-gift-china-to-us_1967684.html

Beijing: China on Monday said admission of non- NPT signatories in NSG cannot be a "farewell gift" for countries to give to each other, a day after the outgoing Obama administration asserted that Beijing was an "outlier" in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club.


"Regarding India's application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), regarding non-NPT countries admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here, reacting to remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, on the issue.

"Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China," Biswal had said on India's NSG membership bid.

"I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of (a) farewell gift for countries to give to each other," Hua said, taking a dig at the Obama administration.

China has been blocking India's membership bid for the 48- member grouping despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

China is advocating a two-step approach for admission of countries who have not signed the NPT.

As per the new stand announced by Beijing, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT countries followed by discussions on admitting specific nations.

Besides India, China is also interacting with Pakistan on the issue as Islamabad too applied for NSG membership after India.

On the issue of China's technical hold on India's application to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN, Hua took an exception to the criticism that Beijing had blocked the UN ban on him.

Answering a question about French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault's comments calling for "decisive action" against Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen which are "targeting" India, Hua said, "I don't like the word block."

"As we have explained our position before, on this question, the 1267 Committee needs to base its decision on solid evidence, follow relevant resolutions and rules of procedure and make a decision based on consensus. The technical hold China proposed is to allow more time for consultation and deliberation," she said.

Asked whether China will re-think over this issue this year if India files a fresh application as the previous one lapsed due to two technical holds by Beijing, Hua said, "China raised the technical hold to give more space for deliberation and consultation".

"It is a regret that no consensus has been reached so far. We need more consensus and more time for deliberation so as to reach a consensus," Hua said

"We need more time for deliberations so as to reach a consensus and the committee will follow relevant resolutions and rules of procedure. We will remain in touch with relevant parties on this," she said.


First Published: Monday, January 16, 2017 - 17:01

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chin...-transparent-says-defence-expert_1967825.html

New Delhi: Defence Expert Major General (Retired) P.K. Sehgal on Tuesday said that China`s treatment is neither fair nor transparent with regard to the stand taken by it over the assent for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership , adding that former`s gesture is not friendly.


"China`s treatment is neither fair nor transparent and even they are not friendly. Even Beijing is aware that if India become the NSG member then the nuclear technology with India which makes it far ahead of China in terms of its peaceful usage," he said.

General (Retired) Sehgal added that India is not surprised from the statement made by China and only USA could get stunned by the stand taken by Beijing over the NSG.

He claimed that China`s export market will get destroyed if India become the member of NSG and keeping this in mind, China would never let India become the member of the NSG.

"India need to make sure that it strengthen its economic and military power as quickly as possible. If we become economically and militarily powerful then China has to give its assent to India`s entry into NSG and in future it will not be able to block UNSC seat," Sehgal told ANI.

China has once again reiterated its position on non-NPT countries` accession to the NSG, saying that the NSG membership is not something to be given privately between countries as a farewell gift.

"China has repeatedly stated its position on non-NPT countries` accession to the NSG. There is no need for me to repeat it here. It is worth pointing out that the NSG membership is not something to be given privately between countries as a farewell gift," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

The remarks came after the outgoing Obama administration had said that China is the only country blocking India from becoming a member of the NSG and described Beijing as an "outlier".India has long been trying to secure the membership of the 48-member group but China`s stance on New Delhi not being a signatory of NPT has been blocking its bid to secure the seat.India has been pressing China to relent on its opposition, saying that vast majority of the 48-member group back New Delhi`s case.

Despite being backed by U.S. and other countries, India had failed to secure the membership at the NSG plenary session in Seoul in June following China`s opposition.NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.


First Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 08:44

 

[JohnyD]

Simple solution...Sack China from NSG...I know it doesn't sound realistic but if China continues to pick on one emerging power at every major global decision making group..I dont see any reason why world body would not expel China from the group...China is not anyways contributor to NSG in terms of material or technology....It is just misusing the clause called CONSENSUS! ..May its NSG or UNSC!

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...-record-not-as-gift-mea-to-china_1968755.html
Delhi: Hitting back at China, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that India was not seeking Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership as a gift but on the basis of its non-proliferation record.

China had said on January 16 that admission of non-NPT signatories in NSG could not be a "farewell gift" for countries to give to each other.

China's comments had come after the outgoing Obama administration had asserted that Beijing was an "outlier" in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club.

"Regarding India's application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), regarding non-NPT countries admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying had told a media briefing, reacting to remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, on the issue.

"Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China," Biswal had said on India's NSG membership bid.

"I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of (a) farewell gift for countries to give to each other," Hua had said, taking a dig at the Obama administration, as per PTI.

China has been blocking India's membership bid for the 48- member grouping despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

China is advocating a two-step approach for admission of countries who have not signed the NPT.

As per the new stand announced by Beijing, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT countries followed by discussions on admitting specific nations.

Besides India, China is also interacting with Pakistan on the issue as Islamabad too applied for NSG membership after India.

(With Agency inputs)



First Published: Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 18:42

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ions-on-counter-terrorism-issues-mea-4501243/
India and Russia on Tuesday held a high-level consultations and shared views on threats posed by terrorism. In a statement after the high-level consultations, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Both sides shared views on the threats posed by scourge of terrorism, including state-sponsored, cross border terrorism faced by India.”

“Both India and Russia agreed that UNSC 1267 Sanctions List processes for blacklisting various terrorists and entities must be stringently complied with,” said MEA.

© The Indian Express Online Media Pvt Ltd

 

[Hindustani78]

A BSF jawan keeps vigil near the border fence at Bamial in Punjab’s Pathankot district. File photo | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...Masood-Azhar-three-others/article17242721.ece
An NIA court in Punjab on Tuesday issued proclamation notice against Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM’s) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others, asking them to appear before it on March 9 in connection with last year’s brazen attack on Pathankot IAF base.

An agency spokesman said the special court in Mohali issued the proclamation notice against Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asgar, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan (both handlers of four terrorists who were killed in retaliatory action by Indian forces).

All the four have been chargesheeted by the NIA for their role in planning and execution of the terror strike on the strategic IAF base at Pathankot on the intervening night of January 1 and 2, last year.

The proclamation notice, which has been issued under section 82 of Criminal Procedure Code, will have to be published in newspapers, including in the country where they are believed to be hiding, sources in the counter-terrorism probe agency said.

The NIA, after wrapping up investigation in the case, had filed a charge sheet in December last year against Masood Azhar and three others for plotting the audacious terror strike that left seven personnel of Indian security forces dead and 37 others injured.

The charge sheet also hinted at lax security at the IAF base and said the four terrorists — Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom — all Pakistani nationals and owing allegiance to JeM, had entered the premises at 0840 hours on January 1 and entrenched themselves in a drain and an adjacent shed belonging to Military Engineering Services.

The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight only at 0320 hours on January 2, full 19 hours after they had sneaked into the sensitive IAF facility.

The charge sheet is part of documents used by India for advocating its case for imposing U.N. sanctions against Azhar, released in 1999 in exchange for passengers of IC-814 Indian Airlines plane, which was hijacked by terrorists.

India, in an unusual move, had allowed a Pakistani team, which included an officer of its notorious spy agency ISI, to conduct a probe at the air base. The team had been handed over necessary documents and allowed to question many people except for security personnel involved in the counteroffensive against the terrorists.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ions-on-counter-terrorism-issues-mea-4501243/
India and Russia on Tuesday held a high-level consultations and shared views on threats posed by terrorism. In a statement after the high-level consultations, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Both sides shared views on the threats posed by scourge of terrorism, including state-sponsored, cross border terrorism faced by India.”

“Both India and Russia agreed that UNSC 1267 Sanctions List processes for blacklisting various terrorists and entities must be stringently complied with,” said MEA.

© The Indian Express Online Media Pvt Ltd

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-designating-Masood-Azhar/article17242575.ece


U.S. pushes for a ban on Masood Azhar in the U.N. and China yet again blocks it
With China opposing U.S.’ proposal in the U.N. for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, India on Tuesday said it has taken up the matter with Beijing.

“We have been informed of this development and the matter has been taken up with the Chinese government,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He was asked about India’s reaction to U.S. pushing for a ban on Azhar in the U.N. and China yet again blocking it.

However, he did not elaborate when and where the issue was taken up with China.

According to senior government sources, the U.S., supported by the U.K. and France, moved a proposal at the U.N.’s Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of last month to proscribe Azhar.

The proposal, which was finalised after “consultations” between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources said.

“However, China opposed the U.S. move by putting a hold on the proposal,” a source said, adding the Chinese action came just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold.

The American proposal came barely weeks after India’s efforts to get Azhar banned by the U.N. were blocked by China in December last.

The “hold” remains for six months and can be further extended by three months. During this period, it can anytime be converted into a “block,” thereby, ending the life of the proposal.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/595405/nuclear-terrorism-international-threat-foreign.html

Asserting that nuclear security remains a continuing concern, India today said terrorism, especially nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy and pitched for a global response in this regard.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, who was speaking at the Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, also hoped that the horrors of atomic power destruction would never be repeated as the negative consequences of atomic power cannot be overlooked.

"Events that have unfolded around us, more so in the past couple of decades, have highlighted that terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. If access to nuclear technology changes State behaviour, it is only to be expected that it would also impact on non-state calculations.

"Nuclear security, therefore, will be a continuing concern, especially as terrorist groups and non-state actors strike deeper roots and explore different avenues to spread terror. Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority," he said.

Maintaining that nuclear energy will continue to play an important role in tackling challenges of inclusive growth and climate change, he said, "On the other hand, the negative consequences of atomic power also cannot be ignored. The world has witnessed the immense destructive power of the atom.

"We hope that such horrors will never be repeated and cannot overstate the importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible."

Jaishankar also warned of the dangers of discriminating among terrorists -– good or bad or even yours and mine -- are increasingly recognised. "Terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy. Nuclear terrorism even more so," he said.

During his address at the meeting, which is being attended by delegates from over 100 countries including the US, the UK, France and Pakistan, he also referred to the strong credentials of India, which is looking for a membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Advocating a two-pronged strategy, Jaishankar said the first is to clamp down on terrorism in general and the second to restrict unauthorised access to nuclear technology and material.

"Responsible States provide political commitments to assure each other that they will protect nuclear material under their control from falling into the wrong hands... "However, political commitments alone cannot ensure the safety and security of nuclear material," the foreign secretary said while referring to several treaty instruments which provide a firm basis for translating broader political commitments into legally binding measures.

The treaties include the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, he said.

Talking about history of nuclear technology, he said, "The power of the atom is wondrous. It has benefited mankind in myriad ways. The scientific community has played a vital role in harnessing nuclear energy and radiological sources for societal needs. The ancient Indian philosopher and sage, Kanada, propounded the concept of 'atom' in the sixth century.

"Today, two-and-a-half millennia later, as a country possessing advanced nuclear technologies, India is at the forefront in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We have actively associated with and contributed to the IAEA and other multilateral forums dealing with all aspects of nuclear material."

Talking about international obligations adhered to by India, he said every year at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, India co-sponsors a resolution on "measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction" that has been adopted by consensus since 2002.

As a State Party to these instruments, India has demonstrated its faith in these instruments and believes that their universalisation is a global good, he said, adding effective implementation of the obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 and 1373 is another important pillar in the fight against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Stressing that Indian experts have contributed positively and substantively to the drafting of various documents and playbooks of the GICNT, Jaishankar said India remains committed to furthering the objectives of the global initiative.

"We have been contributing to the Nuclear Security Fund of the IAEA. India's Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) is available to interested States for training courses and capacity building programmes in the field of nuclear and radiological security," he said.

Observing that there are 13 instruments that are widely accepted as benchmarks for a State's commitment to combat terrorism, Jaishankar said, "What is more important is that adhering parties display the required sincerity to implement their commitment.
"The existence of a number of conventions and treaties dealing with nuclear terrorism underscores the fact that there is no one instrument that can deal with this issue in a holistic manner.

"The march of globalisation means that combating nuclear terrorism in isolation or as part of a small group is unlikely to yield the desired results," he said, adding in this the GICNT plays an important role as it works towards building worldwide communities of experts and practitioners in order to have a consistent and coherent approach towards the issue of nuclear terrorism.

He further said given its impressive membership of 86 partner countries and five international organisations, the GICNT is expected to play an important role in providing an effective international platform for consolidating and disseminating the technical expertise and best practices to respond to malicious acts by terrorists.

The Implementation and Assessment Group (IAG) and the other working groups of the GICNT, namely, Nuclear Detection Working Group (NDWG), Response and Mitigation Working Group (RMWG) and Nuclear and Forensics Working Group (NFWG) have established themselves as the drivers for taking forward the important work of the Global Initiative, Jaishankar said.

The membership of these groups represent the entire spectrum of relevant stakeholders -- the scientific community, law enforcement agencies, first responders to nuclear security events, prosecutors and the judicial fraternity and of course, key decision-makers from the diplomatic community, he said. He also hoped the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which was proposed by India in 1996, would be adopted soon.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/ban-on-terrorist-masood-azhar-not-a-bilateral-issue-mea_1975369.html

New Delhi: Two days after Beijing again blocked the move to ban Jaish-e-Mohamed chief Masood Azhar in the UN, India on Thursday hoped that China would eventually come around to accepting the view that it was not a bilateral issue with Pakistan but a matter of global terrorism.


"We don't view this as a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan but as an issue of global counter terrorism. We hope that eventually China will also come around to accepting this view," said Vikas Swarup, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson.

"This proposal was not moved by India but by three permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, UK and France. It is our understanding that this was a classic counter terrorism proposal meant to proscribe a dreaded terrorist leader Masood Azhar whose organisation the Jaish-e-Mohammad has already been proscribed by the UN 1267 Committee," Swarup said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Wednesday, defended the block, saying "The purpose for China to place the technical hold is to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community."

China blocked the US' move at the United Nations to have Pakistani militant Masood Azhar declared as international terrorist under the 1267 Committee of the Security Council.

Last year, China rejected thrice India's resolution to add Masood to the UN list of international terrorists.


First Published: Thursday, February 9, 2017 - 21:54