On Azhar, China says stand unchanged but settlement in sight

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ Maintaining that its position on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar “remains unchanged”, China on Wednesday said it is “having communication with relevant parties” on the issue of listing him as an international terrorist by the UN and that the matter is “moving in the direction of settlement”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry asked the US not to force through its own resolution on the matter and rejected the report that the US, the UK and France had asked Beijing to lift the technical hold on Azhar by April 23, failing which they will move a formal resolution for discussion, vote and passage at the UN Security Council (UNSC).

“On the issue of the listing of Masood Azhar, China’s position remains unchanged. We are also having communication with relevant parties and the matter is moving towards the direction of settlement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said here.