China blocks bid to label Pakistan-based militant terrorist

China has blocked a bid to officially name a militant at the head of the group responsible for a suicide attack in the disputed region of Kashmir as a terrorist.

Masood Azhar is the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which carried out a bombing last month killing 40 troops in Pulwama.

The incident sparked tensions between India and Pakistan.

The UN security council has been asked to subject Masood Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

However, China requested a delay to give it more time to examine the request.

The postponement could last nine months, and it is the fourth time China - a close ally of Pakistan - has blocked attempts to have Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist.