- Supports India in anti-terror stand
Paris. 15 March 2019. France has decided to sanction Masood Azhar at the national level by freezing his assets in application of the Monetary and Financial Code. A joint decree of the Ministries of the Interior, and Economy and Finance was published today in the Official Gazette.
The statement said, “a deadly attack took place in Pulwama on 14th February 2019, claiming over 40 victims from the Indian police forces. The Jaish-e-Mohammed, which the United Nations has deemed to be a terrorist organization since 2001, has claimed responsibility for this attack. France has always been and always will be by India’s side in the fight against terrorism.”
“We will raise this issue with our European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree,” added the statement.
French Foreign Minister Le Drian had a telephonic conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and informed her of the action taken by France to sanction Masood Azhar, Chief of the UN proscribed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed, which had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terrorist attack on 14th February, 2019. France has sanctioned Masood Azhar at the national level by freezing his assets.
French Foreign Minister also informed that France has raised this issue with the European Union. He reiterated that France has always been and will always be on India’s side in the fight against terrorism. External Affairs Minister thanked FM Le Drian for France’s steadfast support and said that India looked forward to continuing this cooperation on the anti-terrorism front.
This action on the part of France was an expression of partnership with India and was in consonance with the global intent by responsible nations committed to fight against terror, including cross-border terrorism, anywhere in the world.
France most firmly condemned the terrible attack perpetrated on 14 February 2019 against Indian security forces in Pulwama, for which the terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, has claimed responsibility.
In a statement it had said, “France recognises India’s legitimacy to ensure its security against cross-border terrorism and asks Pakistan to put an end to the operations of terrorist groups established on its territory.”
France, which stands by India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms, is fully engaged in mobilising the international community to sanction the terrorists responsible for this attack and freezing their financing networks.
The Indian government welcomed France’s decision to impose financial sanctions on Azhar. “We welcome the decision taken by France to sanction Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based and UN proscribed terrorist organisation; and responsible for the Pulwama terrorist attack,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.
