In a big win for India, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has declared Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist under its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. This came after China removed the "technical hold" on the listing of Makki, who is also the deputy head of LeT.
A statement by the UN issued Monday night read: "On 16 January 2023, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations."
This is a huge diplomatic win for New Delhi as China in June 2022 had tried to blockade India’s bid to name the Pakistan-based Makki as a global terrorist. India had then hit out at Beijing for its stance, stating the move "ran counter to its claim of combating terrorism and signals its double standards".
India and the US have already listed Makki as a terrorist under their domestic laws.
Besides Makki, China had repeatedly placed on hold India's attempts to list other known terrorists too, particularly those from Pakistan. Last August, China once again blocked a proposal by the US and India at the United Nations to blacklist Pakistani terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.
With its power as a veto-wielding permanent member of the UNSC, China uses a "technical hold" to block India's bid. It is also the sole hold-out in the 15-nation body that stood against it.
Makki, a top LeT man
Makki is one of the top leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been involved in raising funds for its operations. He is also the brother-in-law of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, founder of LeT.
Serving as a member of the Shura and a member of the JuD’s central and proselytising teams, Makki is said to have played an important role in the December 2000 attack on the Red Fort in Delhi.
In 2020, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court convicted Makki on one count of terrorism financing and sentenced him to prison, according to the US State Department.