Abdur Rahman Makki is emerging as one of the terror masterminds of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) who is at the forefront of Pakistan’s violent anti-India. Makki has come into focus after his threats to attack Pune, Delhi and Kanpur a week before the Pune terrorist bombing. Although Makki has been issuing such threats in the past against India and western nations, his threat to fill river Ravi with blood if India refused to part with water has made him into one of the most vocal jihadi proponent in Pakistan today.
Who is Makki? Abdur Rahman Makki is Hafiz Saeed’s cousin and brother in law. He is one of the ideologues and second only to Saeed in the hierarchy. Makki’s father, Maulana Abdullah Bahawalpuri, Saeed’s maternal uncle, played an important role in setting up LeT. Abdullah was a teacher at India’s Aligarh Muslim University before Partition and taught Islamic Studies at Bahawalpur Degree College, till he became its Principal. He was closely associated with the Muslim League and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Abdullah’s sons Abdur Rehman Makki and Abdul Mannan married Saeed’s sisters. Makki later became Saeed’s deputy in LeT.
Makki is known as a firebrand speaker and a vocal proponent of suicide missions. He was a teacher at Medina University in Saudi Arabia before he returned to Pakistan. He has authored a book on suicide or fidayeenn missions titled Tehrik-e-Islam ke fidayeenn dastay (Islam’s suicide squads). In the book, published in Lahore in 2004, Makki revealed the role of LeT’s fidayeen missions in carrying several sensational attacks in India.
In the book, Makki dispels the common misconception that fidayeen missions are suicide missions. Quoting instances from the Muslim history, particularly the life of the Prophet and the Companions, he has made point that fidayeen missions dated back to the days of the Prophet. There were a number of instances in the early Muslim history that a single Mujahid took on a large number of enemy men. But they were by no means suicide attack. Mujahideen ‘s fidayeen missions were a continuation of this glorious tradition
"The Fidayeen activities are continuing even today and we hear reports of their adventures every day. A comparison of such adventures during the days of the Sahaba with the deeds of the Lashker-e-Taiba Fidayeen would show a great deal of similarity in the two. Such is the case of Lashker-e-Taiba’s Fidayeen attack on the Delhi Red Fort, the Corps Headquarter in Srinagar the Srinagar airport, police headquarters. All these daring plans were carried out by Fidayeenn in two or four in number who acted with remarkable speed and courage, putting Hindu officers to death in no time. These heroes, occupied the office of an Indian Major and contacted the BBC from the telephone set installed there, disclosing their identity to the world media. Such has been the commitment of these brave warriors for the cause of Jihad and their longing for martyrdom and Paradise," wrote Professor Makki.
"To conclude, it can by safely said that a Fidayeen action is not suicide it is not killing oneself. It is only a style of fighting. Now-a-days, we hear of Lashker-e-Taiba Mujahideen carrying out Fidayeen actions and returning safely by the blessing of Allaah. The Fidayeen from Sargodha who carried out the 15 Corps Badami Bagh Sri Nagar Fidayeen action, Mujahid Salahud Din who led the Fidayeen attack at Srinagar airport and those who conducted the attack on the Delhi Red Fort, all returned safely after accomplishing their mission," he added.
Makki’s rationale for fidayeen adventures:
• A Fidayeen may force his way into the enemy host risking his life.
• Attack a strong enemy army all alone in a manner that he may face sure death.
• Attack an enemy in a bid to inflict a heavy loss on the victim.
• Attack an enemy with the sole desire to embrace martyrdom and continue fighting till the enemy kills him and he achieves his goal.
• Perform such a deed of valour as earns him Allah’s pleasure.
• To seek atonement for committing the grave sin of backing out from Jihad, continue fighting in a fearless fashion, till the attainment of martyrdom.
Although Makki was instrumental in indoctrinating the Mumbai attackers at Muridke and was closely associated with the planning and execution of the Mumbai attack, he has neither been charge-sheeted nor arrested. Strangely enough, Makki has not even been proscribed by the United Nations or the US State Department while Hafiz Saeed and few other leaders of LeT are.
