5 reasons why China defends Jaish boss Maulana Masood Azhar

India has not one but many grouses against Azhar. He was released from an Indian jail following the Khandahar or IC-814 hijack.

New Delhi, Dec 13: China has once again said that it would oppose India's efforts to get the United Nations to ban Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of the terrorist outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad. China said that its stand on Azhar remained unchanged. China has several times in the past blocked India's efforts to get the UN to ban Azhar.

India has not one but many grouses against Azhar. He was released from an Indian jail following the Khandahar or IC-814 hijack. He was the man responsible for the attack on the Indian Parliament. Further his role was found in the Pathankot attack as well.

Why does China continue to block a ban on Azhar. Here are five reasons why China is not supporting India's bid in the UN on Azhar.

1. China and Pakistan consider each other an all weather friend. Any move by China supporting a ban on Azhar would upset Pakistan which considers the terrorist as a strategic asset. For China, India is a competitor. Hence it becomes important for China to continue needling India.
2. Pakistan has shielded China from harsh remarks following a crackdown on Uyghur Muslims at the Xinjiang province. Pakistan has supported China in groupings such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation or OIC. China has no representation in the OIC and hence needs Pakistan's backing.
3. China sees the growing proximity between India and the US as a threat. Azhar could be used by Pakistan to keep India on tenterhooks. The likes of Azhar and his Jaish-e-Mohammad continue to keep security forces on their toes and this creates a certain amount of instability.
4. Granting asylum to the Dalai Lama is a sore point between India and China. Once an Indian diplomat in China had remarked that Dalai Lama was considered to be an equivalent to Lashkar-e-Tayiba Chief Hafiz Saeed. This could another reason why China opposes a ban on Azhar.
5. China has several investments in Pakistan which are under the radar of terrorists or bad terrorists as Pakistan would call them. Azhar and his men on the ground provide security to these investments apart from gathering intelligence against the "bad terrorists."

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