US designates Saeed’s MML ‘ terror outfit’

India welcomes move, says our stand vindicated India welcomes the action taken by the US for designating the Milli Muslim League as an alias of Lashkar- e-Tayyaba, a Pakistan based terrorist group

Washington/ New Delhi, April 3: The United States on Tuesday designated the Milli Muslim League ( MML) — the political front of Hafiz Saeed- led Jamaat- ud- Dawa — a foreign terrorist organisation saying it was just an alias for Lashkar- eTayyaba.

The Trump administration also designated seven members of the MML’s central leadership as foreign terrorists for representing the LeT, and added Tehreek- e- Azadi- e-Kashmir to the list of terror organisations.

India welcomed the decision, saying it substantiates the stance that Pakistan allows terror groups to operate freely on its soil.

“India welcomes the action taken by the US for designating the Milli Muslim League as an alias of Lashkar- eTayyaba ( LeT), a Pakistan based terrorist group and its functionaries who are acting on behalf of LeT. It vindicates India’s position that Pakistan has not taken effective action against terrorist groups and individuals,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a press briefing.

The re- designation, aimed at curbing the organisation’s resources that it uses to conduct acts of terrorism, restricts US citizens from interacting with the group.

Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the coordinator for counter- terrorism at the US’ department of state, said the amendments aim to crackdown on the LeT’s attempts to “circumvent sanctions and deceive the public about its true character”. “Make no mistake: whatever Lashkar- eTayyaba chooses to call itself, it remains a violent terrorist group,” Mr Sales said. The LeT was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation ( FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist ( SDGT) group on December 26, 2001.

— Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson

India on Tuesday welcomed the decision by the United States to designate the Milli Muslim League ( MML) as an alias of the Pakistan- based terror group Lashkar- e- Tayyaba ( LeT), saying this proves that “terrorist individuals and entities are allowed to change names and continue to operate freely from territory under Pakistan’s control”. New Delhi also welcomed designation of seven MML functionaries as global terrorists by the US, saying that 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”.

Responding to the “designation of Milli Muslim League ( MML) and 7 of its functionaries as global terrorists by the US on April 2”, the ministry of external affairs ( MEA) said, “India welcomes the action taken by the US for designating the Milli Muslim League as an alias of Lashkar- eTayyaba ( LeT), a Pakistan based terrorist group and its functionaries who are acting on behalf of LeT. It vindicates India’s position that Pakistan has not taken effective action against terrorist groups and individuals. 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.”

The US state department earlier said, “The department of state has amended the designation of Pakistan- based terrorist organisation LeT to include the aliases Milli Muslim League ( MML) and Tehreek- e- Azadi- e Kashmir ( TAJK). The aliases have been added to LeT’s designations as a foreign terrorist organisation under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist...”

“Concurrently with today’s State Department actions, the US department of the treasury designated seven members of the MML central leadership body for acting for on behalf of LeT: Saifullah Khalid, Muzammil Iqbal Hashimi, Muhammad Harris Dar, Tabish Qayyuum, Fayyaz Ahmad, Faisal Nadeem, and Muhammad Ehsan,” it added.