LeT, TTP identified as potential threat to US
Washington, Oct. 5: Pakistan- based terrorist outfits -- the Lashkar- eTaiba ( LeT) and Tehrik- iTaliban Pakistan ( TTP) -are among radical Islamist groups identified as a potential threat to the US in the Trump administration's new counterterrorism strategy.
In addition to the ISIS and al- Qaeda, dozens of other radical Islamist terrorist groups are working to advance more locally focused insurgent or terrorist campaigns, while still posing a threat to United States persons and interests overseas, said the National Strategy for Counter-terrorism released by the White House on Thursday.
“These groups, including Boko Haram, Tehrik- e Taliban Pakistan and the Lashkar- e Taiba, employ a range of political and terrorist tactics to undermine local governments and conduct attacks,” it said.
The LeT is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.
According to the strategy, these organisations will probably prioritise regional goals over attacks against the homeland or United States interests because of resource constraints or political considerations.
“However, many of these groups are hostile to the United States, maintain networks of sympathisers around the world, and retain ties to the ISIS or al- Qaeda, underscoring their potential threat to United States interests,” said the strategy, according to which radical Islamist terrorists remain the primary transnational terrorist threat to the US and its vital national interests.
Prominent terrorist organisations, particularly the ISIS and al- Qaeda, have repeatedly demonstrated the intent and capability to attack the homeland and United States interests and continue to plot new attacks and inspire susceptible people to commit acts of violence inside the United States, it said.
Radical Islamist terrorist groups have developed and used methods that have challenged the US counterterrorism efforts, including establishing state- like governing institutions within their safe havens, deploying sophisticated explosive devices to defeat aviation security measures, and using highquality media products to recruit extremists in the West, it said.