Lashkar, Jaish face US sanctions
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Washington, Nov. 2: A day ahead of the visit to India of the US President, Mr Barack Obama, the US Treasury department took aim at two Pakistan-based terror groups, the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, and two terrorist masterminds.
The Treasury announced measures to seize or freeze the assets of money men from two terrorist groups, Lashkar-e Tayyaba, which was involved in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, and the Jaish-e-Mohammed.
“LeT and JeM have proven both their willingness and ability to execute attacks against innocent civilians,” said Mr Stuart Levey, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
He called the Treasury's action an important step toward incapacitating these deadly organisations.
The Treasury move highlights US cooperation with India on counter-terrorism in advance of Mr Obama's four-day visit there.
The Treasury also singled out a man it calls a key operational commander of the 2008 Mumbai incident, Azam Cheema, who officials say helped train operatives for the attacks.
The Treasury called Cheema the "mastermind" behind the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings -- a series of seven attacks which killed an estimated 160 people.
The Treasury also acted against Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, head of the LeT's political affairs.
US officials are taking similar action against Mohammed Masood Azhar Alvi, the leader and founder of the second group, JeM.
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre's official site says JeM aims “to unite Kashmir with Pakistan and to expel foreign troops from Afghanistan,” and that it has “openly declared war against the United States.”
After the group was banned by Pakistan, it started funneling funds through a charity organisation called al Rehmat Trust, which the US Treasury calls a front for its operations, providing support for militant activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan and foreign fighters operating in both countries.
The action prohibits Americans from doing business with the targeted men and freezes any of their assets under US jurisdiction.
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