India on Tuesday welcomed the United States’ decision to put Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Lashkar-e-Taiba’s political front Milli Muslim League (MML) on its list of terrorist groups.
”The move vindicates India’s position that Pakistan hasn’t taken effective action against terrorist groups,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, in response to media queries on the designation of MML and seven of its functionaries as global terrorists.
The step by the US administration was also cognizance of the fact that terrorist individuals and entities were allowed to change names and continue to operate freely from territory under Pakistan’s control, he said.
The spokesperson said the designation was a rejection of the attempts being made in Pakistan to mainstream terrorist individuals and entities and highlighted Islamabad’s failure to fulfill its international obligations to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and disrupt terror financing.
Several leaders of MML and as well as LeT’s other front organisations have also been added to the US’ list of terrorist groups. The MML leaders against whom the US took action include MML vice president Muzammil Iqbal Hashimi, Joint Secretary Muhammad Harris Dar, Information Secretary Tabish Qayyuum, Finance Secretary Muhammad Ehsan and Faisal Nadeem.