Date:- 04 Apr 2018
Hours after the United States banned Pakistan-based terror group, Milli Muslim League (MML), India welcomed the move saying the decision reflects rejection of the attempts being made in Pakistan to mainstream terrorist individuals and entities.
The US on Tuesday designated MML, a political front of Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawa, as a foreign terrorist organisation. Saeed is the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack. The US also designated seven members of the MML as foreign terrorists for acting on behalf of LeT and added Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAJK) to the list of terrorist groups. TAJK is said to be a front of the LeT, which according to the Donald Trump administration, continues to operate freely inside Pakistan.
Reacting to the US move, the Ministry of External Affairs said the designation of the MML also shows Pakistan’s failure to dismantle terror sanctuaries in that country and vindicated India’s position that Islamabad has not taken effective action against terrorist groups and individuals.
“India welcomes the action taken by the US for designating the Milli Muslim League as an alias of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan based terrorist group and its functionaries who are acting on behalf of LeT. 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,” MEA said in a statement.
It further added that the designation of the MML 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.
These designations seek to deny the resources it needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Among other consequences of the designations, LeT’s property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group.
The ban by the US comes a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan asked the MML to produce a clearance certificate by the interior ministry for its registration as a political party. General elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan in July. Pakistan’s election commission had earlier rejected the MML’s application for registration as a political party after the interior ministry objected to its ties to banned militant outfits.
President of the MML, Khalid is also the head of LeT’s Peshawar headquarters and served on the JuD’s Coordination Committee for Central Punjab Province. The JuD was designated by the Department of State as an alias of the LeT pursuant April 2016 and was added to the United Nations Sanctions list as an alias of the LeT in December 2008.
Courtesy: The Pioneer, Wednesday, 04 April 2018 | PNS | New Delhi