01/05/2019
Modi hai to mumkin hai:
In a significant victory to the Indian political and diplomatic establishment, the Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council has finally succeeded in declaring dreaded Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar as a ‘Global Terrorist’. With this decision, Masood has joined the notoriously ‘august’ company of the likes of Osama bin Laden.
Credit goes to the doggedness of the Modi government in pursuing the matter to it’s logical conclusion. Although the matter was taken to the UNSC by the UPA government in 2009, it did precious little to pursue it. It was only after Modiji became the Prime Minister that a resolute effort was launched at the UN level and elsewhere to bring this monster to justice.
From the Parliament attack in 2001 to Mumbai terror attack in 2008 to Pulwama attack in 2019, Masood Azhar’s footprints are there in many a terror attack in India. Despite India supplying loads of material as evidence, Pakistan refused to act against this terrorist. Not just the Pakistan political and military leadership, even the judiciary there blatantly sided with Masood and set him free on several occasions.
Our political and diplomatic establishment worked hard in last three years to force near-isolation of Pakistan in this matter at the global level. Jaish has been declared a proscribed organisation last year by the UNSC. However, Masood escaped the noose several tiles because of the so-called ‘technical hold’ imposes by China at the UNSC.
This time round it was France which took extra interest together with other veto power nations UK and USA in pushing the matter at the Sanctions Committee. Foreign Secretary of India visited Beijing last month to nudge the Chinese towards withdrawing the ‘technical hold’.
All these efforts have finally led to today’s significant decision. Pakistan has now moved from near-isolation to full isolation. It is in its own interest now to act against the designated global terrorist who continues to be an honoured guest at one of the official facilities in Pakistan.
People of India are naturally rejoiced over this success. I am sure the Opposition leaders too feel the same way. Last time when China blocked the decision, the Congress President, in stead of criticising China, used the opportunity to attack PM Modi. Hopefully this time they won’t blame Modi for the ‘timing’ of the decision and for ‘destroying institutions like the UNSC for political gains’. We all should present a united voice putting pressure on Pakistan to act now.
