Abdul Rehman Makki, Key Figure Linked to 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, Dies of Cardiac Arrest

Abdul Rehman Makki, one of the accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, passed away on Friday following a cardiac arrest, according to reports by PTI. Makki, the brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed—the alleged mastermind of the attacks—was the deputy chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

The organisation confirmed that Makki had been unwell for several days and was receiving treatment for diabetes at a private hospital in Lahore. "Makki suffered a cardiac arrest early this morning and breathed his last in the hospital," a JuD official told PTI.

Makki was sentenced to six months of imprisonment in 2020 by an anti-terrorism court for his involvement in a terror financing case. Following his conviction, he maintained a low profile. The Pakistan Mutahida Muslim League (PMML) issued a statement describing Makki as a proponent of Pakistan's ideology.

In 2023, the United Nations designated Makki as a global terrorist, subjecting him to an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

Makki’s death comes just a month after the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which left over 100 people dead and shook the nation. On November 26, 2008, Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives entered Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and launched a coordinated series of deadly assaults across the city.

In recent months, speculation has surrounded the health of other key figures associated with the attacks. In April, unconfirmed reports on social media suggested that Hafiz Saeed had been hospitalised due to illness.

Meanwhile, in January, the Pakistan government accused India of orchestrating targeted killings of terrorists within Pakistan—a claim dismissed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs as baseless propaganda.

Makki’s death marks the end of a chapter in the ongoing global efforts to address terrorism and hold those involved accountable.