China blocks Indo-US proposal to name Abdul Rehman Makki as 'global terrorist'

Ahead of the BRICS summit, China has put a last-minute block on a joint proposal by India and the United States at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki as a 'global terrorist' under the ISIS and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee. The proposal to list Makki under the UN Security Council sanctions regime was circulated to all members of the 1267 Committee under a no-objection procedure till June 16, according to people aware of the matter.

But China placed a "technical hold" on the proposal to list Makki. This measure, which can last up to six months at a time, blocks the adoption of the listing proposal till the hold is withdrawn, said the people. The move is aimed at safeguarding China's ally Pakistan.

India and the US had jointly proposed on June 1 to list Makki. Both India and the US have already listed Makki as a terrorist under their domestic laws.


"This decision by China is extremely unfortunate given the overwhelming evidence against Makki. Moreover, it runs counter to China's claims of combating terrorism," said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. "China should reflect on its response that signals double standards on combating terrorism. Protecting well-known terrorists from sanctioning in this manner will only undermine its credibility and risk exposing even itself more to the growing threat of terrorism."

Earlier, too, China had placed hurdles for the listing of known terrorists. It repeatedly blocked proposals to designate Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based and UN proscribed terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Makki is the deputy chief and head of political affairs of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Jamat ud-Dawa (JuD), which itself is a UN proscribed terrorist entity. He also served as head of LeT's foreign relations department. He is a member of Shura (governing body) as well as member of JuD's central and proselytising team. He is the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, a UN proscribed terrorist.