Azhar’s listing watershed moment in fight against terror: French envoy

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council (UNSC) is a "watershed moment" in the fight against terror and has "concrete consequences", French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said here on Friday.

"This is solid proof of the international community's strong support to India's fight against terrorism," said the envoy whose country played a key role in the matter and initiated the process of getting Azhar sanctioned, with extra push after the Pulwama terror attack.

He said the decision of the UNSC's 1267 Sanctions Committee to proscribe Azhar was an "important political decision because we have reached a consensus with the members of the Security Council" on acting against terrorism.

Expressing happiness that a "long process" had been finally completed, he said France had unconditionally supported India's "legitimate" demand for proscribing Azhar as it was "unfair" that while JeM was banned, its leader was not.

"It is a very, very concrete decision," Ziegler told reporters while referring to the "good news" received from New York on Wednesday.

"It has concrete consequences," the envoy added as he pointed out that all the member countries of the Unite Nations will now have to seize Azhar's assets, ban his travel and bar him from acquiring finances.

Ziegler said it has been a "long process" but expressed satisfaction that it was done finally.

"The listing of Masood Azhar by the UN Sanctions Committee is a watershed in our long fight against terrorism. I am very proud that France has played a fundamental role in achieving this diplomatic win," the envoy said.

Highlighting the special importance of the decision, he said it was for the first time that the world reached consensus in the UNSC, although some individual countries like his had taken national decisions to sanction Azhar.

He said France had also pushed for Azhar's listing as a terrorist by the European Union and it was "about the succeed" before the UNSC took the decision.

Noting that he has been in India for 3 years now and a diplomat for 22 years, he said, "I can gauge the importance of this measure, not only for India but also for the international community."

He said it is "concrete" decision because it directly hinders the JeM chief's activities as all UN member states are bound to freeze his assets, block his access to the financial system, ban him from entering or transiting through their territory, not provide him any arms or military assistance whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly.

"As you know, France has been hit hard by terrorism and the fight against terror remains high in our national and international agenda," the envoy said.

Recalling that France's goal has been constant since 2001, he said the listing of Azhar is "a successful realization" of the diplomatic efforts that his country has been conducting for many years, 18 years to be precise.

He noted that the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group had been sanctioned way back in 2001, following the attacks on the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly in October 2001 and the Indian Parliament in December 2001.

"At that time, we upheld the legitimacy of India's demand that its chief be sanctioned. It was rather odd that a terrorist group was sanctioned, but not its leader," Ziegler added.

"In 2016, after the attack on the Pathankot airbase (in January), we brought up this demand. It didn't go through and JeM's terrorist activities continued," he said and referred to the attack on Uri army base in September 2016.

In 2017, France took it upon itself to propose Masood Azhar's designation on the Sanctions Committee list, he said, adding in total, that proposal was submitted three times in New York.

"On the very morrow of the Pulwama attack in February 2019, France has spared no effort to get a communiqu? from the UNSC condemning the terrorist attack. This was a crucial political step, necessary before any discussion on listing Masood Azhar could take place. And the political consensus of the UNSC was very much appreciated," the Ambassador said.

"At the level of the European Union, France had submitted a proposal for designation along the lines of the sanctions that France had adopted at the national level against Masood Azhar on 15th March. Here again, we have been at the forefront," he said.

"This independent European designation, which will now be supplanted by the UN's decision, was in the process of being adopted in the coming days thanks to France's mobilization of the EU," he added.

"The fight against terrorism is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership with India. Our two leaders had recalled this during the State visit of President Macron and I can tell you that we are moving very closely and very fast with India," the envoy said.

He said fighting terrorism in cyberspace will be one of the priorities of our G7 presidency.

"Today, I would like to confirm that India is officially invited to the August summit in France and for the preparatory meetings," he said.

"Terrorism has evolved and States need to cooperate more now than ever before to fight terrorism in cyberspace. In this regard, I'm sure that the contribution of our 2 countries will be precious for the world at large," he added.