India trying to put a International ban on Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Muhammed

 NEW DELHI: In the 2+2 dialogue to be held here on September 6 with the US, India is trying to put an International ban on Jaish-e-Muhammed chief and Pathankot airbase attack accused Masood Azhar.

The act was strengthened with the US showing its willingness in this pursuit. The government is keen to pursue the Azhar issue as it believes it will also act as an early test for the Imran Khan government’s stated willingness to take two steps for every one Indian takes.

India has been assured by the US that it is working to ensure that Beijing drops its opposition to a ban on Pakistan based Azhar. Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State and James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense will travel to India next week for reviewing the bilateral ties with special focus on defence and security partnership.

Earlier China blocked a US backed proposal to get Azhar. India has since quietly worked with the US, UK and France to convince the Chinese that opposing the ban on Azhar betrays a selective approach to terrorism. The US State department named 3 Pakistan nationals linked with LeT as Specially Designated Global Terrorist. India said it vindicated its position that internationally designated terrorists continued to operate with impunity in Pakistan.

India took up this issue with Beijing in bilateral engagements this year while seeking to improve relations with China. This time the government hopes that China will take a considerate view at a time. It also following Pompeo’s visit to Pakistan on his way to India, expecting him to deliver a strong message to Islamabad on terrorism. Pakistan denied the decisive action taken by them against all terrorists operating on their land and accused the US of having issued a factually incorrect statement and claimed there was no mention of terrorists operating in Pakistan in the conversation.