- France has imposed sanctions on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.It will include a freeze on his assets and will help in travel ban on Azhar and his known followers.
- This decision comes after China had once again blocked a UN Security Council (UNSC) move to get the Pakistan-based Azhar Masood designated as a global terrorist.The proposal was moved by France,UK and US.
- France will also discuss with other European countries on the proposal of putting Masood Azhar on a European Union list of terrorists and terror organizations.
- According to experts,France has given several messages by imposing sanctions such as (a)It conveyed political solidarity with India (b)Its intention to take a lead in counter-terrorism (c)a signal to Pakistan that it must deal firmly with jihadi organizations and (d)opposing Pakistan and China’s combined effort to protect Masood Azhar in the UNSC.
