• Abdul Rehman Makki was designated a global terrorist by the UN after China lifted its hold on a joint India-US proposal to blacklist the deputy chief of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

• The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee added 68-year-old Makki to its list of designated terrorists on January 16, subjecting him to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

• The Sanctions Committee said Makki and other Lashkar-e-Taiba/Jamaat-Ud-Dawa operatives “have been involved in raising funds, recruiting and radicalising youth to violence and planning attacks in India, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir”.

Who is Abdul Rehman Makki?

• Makki, born in Bahawalpur, Punjab Province of Pakistan, is a US-designated terrorist and is the deputy chief of LeT, head of the political affairs wing of JUD/LET, a member of JUD’s Markazi (Central) Team and Daawati (proselytisation) team.

• Makki also served as head of LeT’s foreign relations department and member of Shura (governing body). He is the brother-in-law of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)/LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

• Makki was arrested on May 15, 2019 by the Pakistan government and was under house arrest in Lahore. In 2020, a Pakistani court convicted Makki of terrorism financing and sentenced him to prison.

• In November 2010, the US Department of the Treasury had designated Makki as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. As a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property, and interests in property, of Makki that are subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Makki.

• The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice programme is offering a reward of up to $2 million for information on Makki.

ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List

• The UN Security Council imposes individual targeted sanctions (an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo) upon individuals, groups, undertakings and entities designated on the ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

• The Sanctions List currently contains the names of 256 individuals and 88 entities and was last updated on January 16, 2023.

• The Committee works with Interpol to produce Interpol-United Nations Security Council Special Notices for listed individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. These notices promote information sharing and implementation of the measures among Member States.

China’s stand on the issue

• Decisions to list individuals and entities under the 1267 sanctions committee are made through consensus.

• In June 2022, China put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Makki under the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions  Committee of the UN Security Council.

• China has repeatedly placed holds and blocks on bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists.

• Of the 15 Security Council members that make up the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, veto-wielding permanent member China was the sole hold-out during the process to list Makki.

• Consensus to blacklist Makki under the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions  Committee could not be achieved after China placed a hold on the joint proposal by India and US in June last year.

• Makki was finally designated as a global terrorist by the UNSC sanctions committee after the hold was lifted by China.

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