The United States on Tuesday amended the designation of Pakistan-based banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba to label its alias Milli Muslim League – the political front of Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa – a foreign terrorist organisation. The Donald Trump administration also added Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir to the list of terror organisations.
The re-designation restricts US citizens from interacting with the group. The designation of foreign terrorist organisation aims to curb the organisation’s resources that it uses to conduct acts of terrorism, a statement issued by the country’s State Department said.
Ambassador Nathan A Sales, the coordinator for counter-terrorism at the Department of State, said the amendments aim to crackdown on the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s attempts to “circumvent sanctions and deceive the public about its true character”. “Make no mistake: whatever Lashkar-e-Taiba chooses to call itself, it remains a violent terrorist group,” Sales said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the United States’ decision, saying it proved its charge that Pakistan allows terror groups to operate freely from its territory.
“It is also cognisance of the fact that terrorist individuals and entities are allowed to change names and continue to operate freely from territory under Pakistan’s control,” Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. “The designation is a rejection of the attempts being made in Pakistan to mainstream terrorist individuals and entities and highlights Pakistan’s failure to fulfil its international obligation to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and disrupt terror financing.”
The US Treasury Department has also designated seven members of the Milli Muslim League’s core leadership for representing the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The State Department had designated the LeT as a “terrorist organisation” in December 2001. However, the group has since repeatedly created fronts to avoid sanctions, the department said. In December 2016, the United States added the student wing of militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba to its list of “foreign terrorist organisations”. Al-Muhammadia Students, the student wing of the LeT, works with senior leaders of the organisation to recruit people and organise activities for the youth.
The State Department said the LeT was responsible for the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The Lashkar-e-Taiba continues to operate freely within Pakistan, holding public rallies, raising funds, and plotting and training for terrorist attacks.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!