On the eve of President Barack Obama’s maiden visit to India, the US on Thursday slapped sanctions on Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, besides targeting LeT commander Azam Cheema, a key operational figure in the 26/11 attacks.
The treasury department took action against Cheema, who helped train operatives for the 26/11 attacks and was the “mastermind” behind the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, an official statement said.
The department targeted the financial and support network of the two terror groups. It also acted against Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, head of LeT’s political affairs department, for acting for or on behalf of LeT. The US also targeted Al Rehmat Trust, an operational front for JeM and the group’s top leader Moham-med Masood Azhar Alvi.
“Today’s action — including the designation of Azam Cheema, one of LeT’s leading commanders who was involved in the 2008 and 2006 Mumbai attacks — is an important step in incapacitating the operational and financial networks of these deadly organisations,” undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Stuart Levey said.
Cheema has also been described as LeT’s surveillance or intelligence chief.