China Vetoes Proposal to Designate LeT Member Sajid Mir as Global Terrorist, Straining International Counterterrorism Efforts

On Tuesday, China vetoed a proposal put forth by India and the United States at the United Nations (UN) to designate Sajid Mir, a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, as a global terrorist.

Mir, who is wanted for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was the target of the proposal aimed to blacklist him under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. This designation would have subjected Mir to various sanctions, including an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

It is not the first time China has blocked such a proposal. In September of the previous year, it placed a hold on a similar initiative to designate Mir as a global terrorist.

However, this recent move represents a definitive blockage by Beijing.

Sajid Mir, believed to be in his mid-40s, is considered one of India's most wanted terrorists. The United States has placed a bounty of USD 5 million on his head for his role in the Mumbai attacks.

In June of last year, Mir was sentenced to over 15 years in jail for a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan.

Despite claims by Pakistani authorities in the past that Mir had died, Western nations have remained skeptical and demanded proof of his death. This issue became a significant point of contention during the Financial Action Task Force's assessment of Pakistan's progress on its action plan last year.

Mir holds a senior position within the Pakistan-based LeT and is sought for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, which took place in November 2008. The US State Department has identified him as LeT's operations manager for the attacks, stating that he played a leading role in their planning, preparation, and execution.

China's decision to block the proposal comes as no surprise, given its longstanding alliance with Pakistan. Beijing has consistently utilized its veto power to prevent the blacklisting of Pakistan-based terrorists under the UN Security Council's sanctions committee.

The US State Department has highlighted that Mir has been a senior member of LeT since around 2001. During his tenure from 2006 to 2011, he was responsible for the group's external operations and directed numerous terrorist attacks.

Furthermore, Mir was involved in a plot to carry out a terrorist attack against a Danish newspaper and its employees between 2008 and 2009.

Mir was indicted in the United States in April 2011 for his role in the Mumbai attacks. In August 2012, he was identified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of the Treasury.

Consequently, all property and interests in property belonging to Mir within US jurisdiction were blocked, and US individuals were generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him.

The State Department's website lists Mir as one of the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists.

China's decision to block the proposal at the UN raises concerns about international efforts to combat terrorism effectively. The move is likely to further strain relations between India, the US, and China, as the global community grapples with the growing threat of terrorism and the need for collective action to address it.

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