NEWS DESK
The United States has said, China has a responsibility not to shield Pakistan and join the international community in calling on Islamabad to take action against terrorists operating on its soil.
A senior Trump administration official expressed deep disappointment over Beijing’s decision to block a bid in the United Nations to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. He said, China and the US share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace and any failure on the Security Council as part to designate Azhar as a terrorist would run counter to this goal. The official hoped that the US and China can work together on a mutual goal in terms of countering terrorism and upholding the Security Council responsibility.
The Trump administration’s view came as Germany initiated a move at the European Union to list Azhar as a global terrorist.
JeM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack which killed over 40 CRPF personnel.
After the attack, US, UK and France moved a resolution in the UN Sanctions Committee of the Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. The move suffered a setback as China put a technical hold on the proposal for the fourth time, a move India termed as disappointing.
The United States has also asked Pakistan to take concrete and sustained action to rein in on terror groups operating from its soil, mainly Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
A senior administration official told reporters at the White House that if there’s another terror attack on India without Pakistan having made a sustained effort against the groups, it would be extremely problematic for Islamabad.
Asked about the steps being taken by Pakistan in the aftermath of the air strike on terror by the Indian Air Force, the official said Islamabad has taken some initial action, but it is early to make a full assessment.
He said, US and the international community want to see irreversible and sustained action against terror groups. The official added that Washington is working with international partners to increase pressure on Pakistan.
