It took yet another militant attack across the border and increasing pressure from outside powers for us to finally act against Masood Azhar and his militant network. India, however has taken matters into their own hands by demanding Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) be banned by the United Nations. This move, ostensibly for the general security for both countries, is another political ploy for India to show its own moral superiority.

Undeterred by its previous attempt to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the United Nations, India will again move the world body with the demand, according to its external affairs ministry. They will be moving the 1267 Sanctions Committee to also include his name, where for them it is a great ‘anomaly’ that the organisation is listed, but not its leader. The minister has also noted that India had already submitted to the UN’s Sanction Committee a fresh list of what he called 11 terrorists from Pakistan-based groups affiliated to Al Qaeda, Taliban and other outfits responsible for terrorism in the country- something they simply think is a given. The UN banned JeM in 2001 but India’s efforts to get restrictions imposed on Azhar after the Mumbai attacks did not bear fruit because China didn’t allow them to be imposed.

While these men are a constant source of embarrassment and worry for Pakistan, the more India pushes for their arrest, the more Pakistan pushes back claiming their innocence/non-involvement in specific terrorist events. In international relations, where power and image trump liberal ideas of justice and human rights, we cannot be seen cowing down to Indian pressure. The JeM is nothing but trouble, and due to the international situation is able to take advantage of the situation.

Additionally, if the UN bodies can support Indian claims of Pakistani’ terrorism, then it must also take a stand on the dossiers we have submitted to the UN regarding Indian involvement terrorism on Pakistan soil. Last year, our Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs was told that dossiers given to the US and UN Secretary General did not contain ‘material evidence’. We have declared that the records contain irrefutable evidence regarding Indian intelligence agency RAW’s involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan. Even if there isn’t a consensus regarding it, the UN should treat both countries with the same level of interest and veneration. Until that can happen, Pakistan will continue to blame India (with evidence) and India will continue to create havoc in international politics while refusing to negotiate, giving new meaning to the term ‘mutually assured destruction’.