US nixes Hafiz Saeed’s plan to legitimise Lashkar-e-Toiba

NEW DELHI: Pakistani terrorist and 26/11 attack mastermind Hafeez Saeed’s attempt to legitimise the Lashkar-e-Toiba took a hit after the United States named his Milli Muslim League (MML) and Tehreek-i-Azadi-i-Kashmir (TAK) as LeT affiliates, which makes it impossible for them to register as political parties. Separately, the US Treasury Department added seven members of the MML leadership, who were acting on behalf of Lashkar-e-Toiba, to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. 

“Today’s amendments show that the US government is not fooled by Lashkar-e-Toiba’s efforts to circumvent sanctions and deceive the public about its true character,” Ambassador Nathan Sales, coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department, said in a statement. “Make no mistake: whatever the LeT chooses to call itself, it remains a violent terrorist group.” 

Welcoming the US move, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “It vindicates India’s position that Pakistan has not taken effective action against terrorist groups and individuals. It is also cognizance 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 Milli Muslim League sprang up early last year and shot to prominence after fielding a candidate in a September 2017 bypoll to fill a seat vacated by deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan’s Election Commission, however, refused to recognise it as a political party.