December 27, 2024: Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, a key conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and deputy chief of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), died on Friday after suffering a heart attack. The 76-year-old was undergoing treatment for high sugar levels at a private hospital in Lahore, where he had been ill for the past several days, sources confirmed.

Makki was a pivotal figure in several terror plots orchestrated by LeT, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives. He played a significant role in financing the operation, which saw a group of ten terrorists unleash mayhem across India's financial capital. Nine attackers were killed during counter-terror operations, while one, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive and later executed.

In addition to the Mumbai attacks, Makki was also linked to the 2000 Red Fort attack in New Delhi, where six LeT operatives stormed the historic site, killing three security personnel. Further, his organization was implicated in the assassination of prominent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari in 2018.

Makki had been under scrutiny for years and was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2019. Initially placed under house arrest, he was convicted in 2020 on charges of terror financing and sentenced to life imprisonment. In January 2023, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) designated him a global terrorist under its sanctions regime.

The UNSC declaration subjected Makki to an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo, reflecting the international community's recognition of his role in global terrorism. The UNSC's statement emphasized his connection to acts that threatened regional and global peace.

Makki’s death marks the end of a controversial chapter in South Asia's fight against terrorism. His passing comes amidst ongoing international efforts to hold Pakistan accountable for dismantling terror networks operating on its soil.