Baoding: China again blocked for the fourth consecutive time a resolution at the UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar, head of the JeM terror group, as a global terrorist. The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the JeM killed 44 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan.

Sources reported China blocked India's bid to designate Masood Azhar as global terrorist in UNSC: India will show patience as long as it takes, we are cautiously optimistic that M Azhar will be listed. There are issues China has to resolve with Pakistan. India has strong support of 14 members.

China also knows terrorism is a challenge, they know it operates from Pakistan. India will show patience. Its action is cosmetic. US is supportive of India & has assured that Pakistan will take action. China blocks India's bid to designate M Azhar as global terrorist in UNSC. India raised concerns with US on arms used. US took note and also appreciated India for sharing its position in real time. There are no takers in US to take Pakistan's narrative that India is posing threat.

If the fresh efforts by the US, France and the UK does not end up in the formal designation of Azhar, the three permanent members are planning to soon move a resolution for his listing in the most powerful wing of the UN which would be preceded by an open debate on the issue, according to people familiar with the matter.

India had expressed disappointment over the Chinese stance and the original co-sponsors of the resolution had warned they will consider "other actions" to achieve their goal. While the internal consultations of the Security Council committee remain private, this time several Council members, frustrated at China's unreasonable stance to protect a terrorist, privately spoke to the media the negative role being played by Beijing.

"If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn't have to come to that," a Security Council diplomat told PTI on Wednesday in an unusual tough warning to Beijing.

In the last 50 hours, it is believed that the original sponsors of the Azhar resolution are having intense "good faith" consultations with China on what many familiar with the matter describe as a "compromise".