France has always been and always will be by India’s side in the fight against terrorism, the statement added. France has decided to freeze the assets of JeM founder and leader Masood Azhar

NEW DELHI: France on Friday 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 in the Official Gazette.

"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 organisation since 2001, has claimed responsibility for this attack," a French government statement noted.

France has always been and always will be by India’s side in the fight against terrorism, the statement added. It was France that initiated UNSC statement on Pulwama and later proposal to sanction Azhar under 1267 sanctions committee.

"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."

There’s is an attempt made by the European Union, being led by Germany and France to list Azhar as a terrorist under an EU-India list. This would ensure that Azhar will in all practical purposes be a "designated terrorist" in the EU and India. “China may stall the process in UNSC but a listing by the EU will be effective to an extent and it will also be a signal to the world. The initial process towards this has been launched,” a senior official said.