France has decided to freeze the assets of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.
A joint statement issued by the French interior ministry, finance ministry and foreign ministry said that France would discuss putting Masood Azhar on a European Union list of people involved in terrorism.
“A deadly attack took place in Pulwama on 14th February 2019, claiming over 40 victims from the Indian police forces. The Jaish-e-Mohammed, which the United Nations has deemed to be a terrorist organization since 2001, has claimed responsibility for this attack.”
“France has always been and always will be by India’s side in the fight against terrorism,” the statement said.
Reuters: France says it has decided to freeze the French assets of Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar pic.twitter.com/mtMGuazFii
— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2019
“We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree.”
In a setback to India, China recently, once again put a technical hold on a proposal by the UN Security Council to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’.
In its reaction, the External Affairs Ministry said India will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that leaders of terror groups involved in heinous attacks on Indian citizens are brought to justice.
“We are disappointed by this outcome. This has prevented action by the international community to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a proscribed and active terrorist organization which has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14,” the MEA said.
Without naming China, it said the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee was not able to come to a decision on the proposal for listing Azhar on account of a member placing the proposal on hold.
