Saeed is the leader of extremist group JuD
Hours after Trump administration slammed Pakistan’s inaction to contain terror as the prime reason for the continuing tension with India, sanctions have been imposed on Hafiz Saeed and three other extremists. Saeed is the leader of extremist group JuD, which allegedly masterminded the Mumbai terror attack.
The US sanctions come in the midst of intelligence agencies confirming that JuD group is funding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other terrorist organizations such as the Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Dawa al-Qu’ran (JDQ), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and ISIS-Khorasan.
John Smith, director of treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that the sanctions imposed on Hafiz Saeed and other extremists is intended to disrupt the financial support of the terrorist organizations that support Taliban, al-Qaida, ISIS, and LeT for recruitment, funding of suicide bombers and other violent insurgent operations.
The other three extremists that come under the sanctions are Hayatullah Ghulam Muhammad (Haji Hayatullah), Ali Muhammad Abu Turab and Inayat-ur Rahman. Charity managed by Inayat-ur Rahman, Welfare and Development Organization of Jamaat-ud-Dawah for Quran and Sunnah (WDO), has also been included in the sanctions.
Smith also confirmed that the latest move is part of the US initiative to crack down extremists in Pakistan and its surrounding areas. He said that this time charities and other front groups used as vehicles to facilitate terrorist activities have also come under the ambit of the sanctions.
According to him, all three individuals and the organization that has been listed have close connections with the terrorist groups and are a “direct threat to the security of both the United States and Pakistan.”
He also added that all three individuals are opportunistic and exchange close connections with extremist groups even as their ideologies differ. He said that they operate together to ensure that they can deepen their roots in the region.
Daniel Coats, director of National Intelligence on Thursday blamed Pakistan for deteriorating Indo-Pak ties and warned that the ties could further worsen if another “high-profile” terrorist attack like the Pathankot emanate in the coming months. Coats was addressing lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.