The US again warned Pakistan to take 'sustained actions' against Jaish-e-Mohammed and its chief Masood Azhar to ensure regional stability in the region

Washington The US on Friday again warned Pakistan against sponsoring terror groups including the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and urged the south Asian country to take "sustained, irreversible action against terrorist groups" to prevent future attacks in order to bolster the regional connectivity. "We reiterate our call for Pakistan to abide by its United Nations Security Council obligations to deny terrorists safe haven and block their entry to funds," said deputy spokesperson of US department of state, Robert Palladino.

On the question of another resolution to designated JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorists by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Palladino said that "their stand against Masood Azhar and JeM that has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks is clear, the UN designated terror group is a threat to regional stability" while adding that the "US will continue to work with the sanctions committee to ensure that the list is updated and that it’s accurate."

The US's statement has come in the wake of reports of Pakistan arresting JeM chief Masood Azar's brother and son among 44 other members of JeM and putting Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoots Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FiF) on its proscribed list.

On February 28, the US, the UK, and France moved a proposal in the UNSC to designate Masood Azar as a global terrorist, which will subject him to a global travel ban and asset freeze. Notably, the fresh proposal has been moved by 3-permanent veto-wielding members of the UNSC amid reports that this time China, another veto-wielding country in the UNSC, won't block the proposal.

In the past, the proposal to designate Azhar as a global terrorist has been moved thrice, but on all occasions, China blocked the proposal citing lack of evidence.