China’s consistent strategy of politicizing the fight against global terrorism undermines the dignity of the UN Security Council
Post Date – Sat 23/24 at 12:45am
It is now a familiar pattern for ties between Beijing and Islamabad to abuse international forums to protect terrorists operating on Pakistani soil. In the latest recent example at the UN, China blocked an Indian and US proposal to designate Pakistani Lashkar Lashkar member Sajid Mir as a global terrorist for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. China’s consistent strategy of politicizing the fight against global terrorism not only exposes its duplicity, but also undermines the dignity of the UN Security Council. If Mir is put on the global terrorist blacklist by the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, he will face an asset freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo. He is one of India’s most wanted terrorists, with the United States offering a $5 million reward for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Although Pakistani authorities have claimed in the past that Mir was dead, Western countries remain skeptical and demand evidence of his death. This issue has created a major obstacle for FATF (Financial Action Task Force) to assess the progress of Pakistan’s action plan last year. China continues to duplicity over the fight against global terrorism, has mounting friction with the United States and unresolved border tensions with India. The justifications provided by Beijing for its position are completely unacceptable. It defended its actions as so-called technical objections based on program flaws.
However, it is an open secret that they are apparently part of the international model for protecting Pakistan. Mir is the fifth Pakistani terrorist accused of being blocked by Beijing from being placed on a global terrorist blacklist in the past few months. Interestingly, a Pakistani court sentenced Mir to more than 15 years in prison in a terrorism financing case last June, amid Pakistan’s efforts to exit the FATF gray list. China’s continued obstruction at the UN will only serve to empower terrorists operating in Pakistan. The international community has increasingly recognized that terrorism is a global threat that requires a joint response and coordination by the international community. It cannot be addressed in isolation, nor can it be selectively condemned. Countries notoriously following the “good terrorist, bad terrorist” policy line are doomed to swallow their own bitter medicine. It is clear from its track record that Beijing has been abusing its position on the UN Security Council and abdicating its international responsibility to fight terrorism. Protecting notorious terrorists from U.N. sanctions and other related measures has damaged China’s credibility. This approach only adds to the problems that have caused discord between India and China. Beyond that, China has been blocking India’s bid to become a permanent member of the reformed UN Security Council.
