China today said it will take "a decision in due course" about the pending application in the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group leader Masood Azhar as a terrorist when it comes for a review.
"The Chinese side will make the decision in due course," the foreign ministry said about the pending application proposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and France among others in the 1267 anti-terrorism committee of the UN Security Council.
Early this year, China had put a six-month technical hold on the application which is expected to come up for review shortly.
"We have stated China's position on the listing of the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council many times" in the past, the ministry said in a written response.
China has been blocking India's move stating that there is no consensus in the UNSC 1267 which enforces a global ban on terror groups and their leaders with affiliations to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. JeM has already been in the banned list.
This is the second year China has blocked attempts to bring about a UN ban on Azhar which would force Pakistan to act against him.