While the UNSC has named JeM in its resolution, it should follow up by curtailing funds to Pakistan-based terror outfits

Given that China has always obliged its puppet state of Pakistan in the past and blocked any anti-terror resolution against groups that use the territory of India’s western neighbour to launch a constant stream of small attacks on our country, it was telling that even it was forced into approving the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. With trade talks with the United States stalled and China’s economy feeling the heat due to the Trump Administration’s talks on that front, China finally gave up its blatant hypocrisy and approved this resolution. One must not forget that despite China’s covert support for Islamist terrorists in Pakistan, that country has been brutalising its Islamic minority in its north-west region. The Uighurs in particular have been incarcerated in mass camps, which according to scant reports from that region, are akin to Nazi Germany’s concentration camps. Unfortunately, JeM chief, Masood Azhar, while able to indoctrinate youths into killing themselves, does not quite comprehend the concept of irony of being protected by a country whose policy towards his Muslim brethren, whom he claims to be fighting for, is so frighteningly barbaric.

But even if China condemns the attack on Indian paramilitary forces, albeit indirectly through a UNSC resolution, it will not change Pakistan’s behaviour. As long as funds continue to flow into Pakistan from Saudi Arabia, China and even Western powers, which are desperate for peace in Afghanistan, can do little. The Pakistani meddling has left its western neighbour poverty-stricken and under-developed yet flush with weapons. The US and the European Union through their central banks must do more to block the routes of terror fundings. The United States Treasury Department, for example, claims jurisdiction whenever the US dollar is used in bribes or terror and following the 9/11 attacks has done a lot to clean out the global banking system of terror funding and money laundering. Yet, much more needs to be done to clean up the system. In India as well, despite digitisation and the impact of demonetisation, money-laundering continues to grease the wheels of the terrorist machine in Kashmir. It is likely that the authorities are aware of how the system works, often through seemingly legitimate businesses. They have to crack down on these.

While cutting the money machine will not completely stop terrorism in the Valley, it can dramatically aid the situation because indoctrination only goes so far. Without money, terror activities also dry up. This is similar to the methods used by the Israelis in combating terror. While the Government has acted against wanton sources of foreign money coming into India, which earlier had little or no accountability, it has dawdled in cracking down on those who fund Kashmiri separatists. And this has to stop now.