Thaindian News

Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) Welcoming the UN ban on a Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) front body and sanctions against four of its members, the US has said the action would limit the Pakistan-based terror group’s ability to plan new attacks, acquire weapons and raise funds.”These actions will limit the ability of known terrorists to travel, acquire weapons, plan, carry out, or raise funds for new terrorist attacks,” the State Department said on the UN action against front operations of LeT, prime suspect in the Nov 26 Mumbai terror attacks.

The sanctioned four include Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, identified as the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.

The listings by the UN Security Council’s Al Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Committee, known as the “1267 Committee” “reaffirm the council’s commitment to updating the 1267 Consolidated List to ensure it continues to serve as a tool to help member states deter terrorist activities of Al Qaida and affiliated groups,” it said.

“The United States is pleased that the committee has decided to move forward on these high-priority designations.”

The UN committee originally designated the LeT in 2005, citing its affiliation with Al Qaida. Pakistan banned LeT in 2002. The US and the European Union have also sanctioned the group.

The UN committee Wednesday listed four members of LeT - Muhammad Saeed a.k.a. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Haji Muhammad Ashraf, and Mohmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq - for targeted sanctions, including asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

It also added a new alias for the group, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD), which is an LeT front operation, and additional aliases for Al Rashid and Al Akhtar Trusts, which have raised funds for LeT.

The Al Rashid Trust aliases are: Al Amin Welfare Trust, Al Amin Trust, Al Ameen Trust, Al-Ameen Trust, Al Madina Trust, Al-Madina Trust.

The Al-Akhtar Trust aliases are: Pakistan Relief Foundation, Pakistani Relief Foundation, Azmat-e-Pakistan Trust, Azmat Pakistan Trust.