United Nations/Beijing: China has blocked a joint proposal by India and the United States (US) to designate Pakistan-based top LeT militant Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist under the UN sanctions committee. After taking such a decision Beijing claimed it was consistent with relevant rules and procedures. Abdul Rehman Makki, a US-designated terrorist, is the brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Makki, 74 is also known as Abdulrahman Maki. He has occupied various leadership roles within the LeT. Both India and the US have already listed Makki as a terrorist under their domestic laws.
India and the US jointly proposed June 1 to list Makki under the UN Security Council’s Al-Qaeda and ISIL Sanctions Committee which is also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee. But, China, a close ally of Pakistan, placed a ‘technical hold’ on the proposal to list Makki and this measure can last for up to six months at a time.
All decisions of the Committee are taken through consensus.
In New Delhi, government sources said China’s decision runs counter to Beijing’s claim of combating terrorism and signals its ‘double standards’. Makki has been involved in raising funds, recruiting and radicalising youths to resort to violence and planning attacks in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
“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 a source.
In Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended its move Friday. It said that its actions were in accordance with the relevant procedures and rules.
“I would like to say that China opposes all forms of terrorist attacks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said when asked why China chose to put a hold on designating the known Pakistan-based terrorist.
“China’s actions at the UN Security Council 1267 Committee are always consistent with relevant rules and procedures. China will continue to conduct its work in a constructive and responsible manner,” Wang said in updated comments posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
Asked to elaborate on his comments, especially on procedures and rules, Wang declined to go into the details. “I have made China’s position clear. I’m not going to repeat myself,” Wang said.
Responding to another question about whether China’s stand to put a hold on the designation of the wanted terrorist will add to the growing list of issues causing discord between India and China, he said: “On the listing of the person you mentioned, I just stated China’s position.”
Earlier also, China has placed holds and blocks on bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists.
In May 2019, India had won a huge diplomatic win at the UN when the global body designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’, a decade after New Delhi had first approached the world body on the issue.
A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China was the sole hold-out in the 15-nation body on the bid to blacklist Azhar, blocking attempts by placing a ‘technical hold’.