US adds Lashkar fronts MML and TAJK to list of foreign terrorists
03 Apr 2018
The United States has added the Milli Muslim League (MML) and Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAJK) – both fronts of the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) - to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO), saying that whatever name LeT takes it remains a terrorist outfit.
"The aliases (MML and TAJK) have been added to LeT’s designations as an FTO under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224," the US State Department website said.
Monday's revisions “show that the US government is not fooled by Lashkar-e-Taiba’s efforts to circumvent sanctions and deceive the public about its true character," Nathan Sales, US ambassador to Pakistan and coordinator for counterterrorism at the department, said.
"Today, @StateDeptCT has amended the designation of Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT) to include the aliases Milli Muslim League (MML) and Tehreek-e- Azadi-e Kashmir (TAJK), he tweeted.
Both the MML and TAJK were different names of the same banned terrorist outfit," Sales said, adding that regardless of its attempts to create new facades, it would not be able to hide from the US.
“Make no mistake: whatever LeT chooses to call itself, it remains a violent terrorist group. The United States supports all efforts to ensure that LeT does not have a political voice until it gives up violence as a tool of influence,” it added.
The LeT's "leader, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, is also designated as an SDGT".
The Executive Order imposes financial sanctions on both the MML and TAJK, it said, adding, the "designations seek to deny LeT the resources it needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks".
It also prohibits American citizens from engaging in any type of deals with either of these groups as US relations with Pakistan have recently become quite bumpy.
"US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group," the statement on the website mentioned.
"Among other consequences of the designations, LeT’s property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked," it said.
By changing guises, the LeT has attempted to fool the people of Pakistan as well as the global fraternity, the US said, stressing that it hopes it was clear that no matter what mask the banned terrorist organisation considers wearing, it would remain labelled as a terrorist group.