China blocks move to designate LeT member a terrorist
INDIA AND THE U.S. JOINTLY PROPOSED THE LISTING OF ABDUL REHMAN MAKKI, CLOSE AIDE AND RELATIVE OF LET FOUNDER HAFIZ SAEED, AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 1
NEW DELHI: China on Thursday blocked a joint move by India and the US to list Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist at the UN Security Council by placing a “technical hold” on the proposal.
The method adopted by China, a close ally of Pakistan, is identical to the steps it took to repeatedly block the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar under the UN Security Council’s al-Qaeda and ISIL sanctions committee -- also known as the 1267 Committee - before finally relenting in May 2019 in the face of international pressure.
On June 1, India and the US jointly proposed the listing of Makki, a close aide and brotherin-law of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, at the UN Security Council. Both countries have already listed Makki as a terrorist under domestic laws, and the US is even offering a bounty of $2 million for him.
The proposal to list Makki under the UN Security Council sanctions regime was circulated to all 15 members of the 1267 Committee under a “no-objection procedure” valid till June 16, people familiar with the development said. On Thursday, China put a “technical hold” on the proposal, they said.
This measure, which can last for up to six months at a time under the Security Council’s procedures, effectively blocks the proposal to designate Makki as a terrorist until the “technical hold” is withdrawn.
“China’s decision is extremely unfortunate, given the overwhelming evidence against Makki. Besides, it runs counter to China’s claims of combating terrorism,” one of the people cited above said.
They noted this wasn’t the first time China has created hurdles in the process for listing of known Pakistan-based terrorists. China blocked proposals to designate JeM chief Azhar at the UN sanctions committee at least four times by using technical holds.
At the time, Beijing said it was because it needed more information about Azhar’s activities. China finally relented by lifting the technical hold on May 1, 2019, allowing the listing of the JeM chief by the 1267 committee for his terrorist activities and his links with al-Qaeda.
READ THE FULL STORY: Makki is the deputy chief of the LeT group