The US slapped sanctions on four Pakistani militants linked to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Al-Qaeda, with one of them having links to Dawood Ibrahim, for their involvement in a series of terrorist activities including bombings in the Mumbai train and Samjhauta Express.
The US treasury imposed asset freeze on four designated terrorists Arif Qasmani, Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen al-Peshawari, Mohammed Yahya Mujahid and Nasir Javaid. "The designated individuals have provided direct support to Al Qaida and LeT and have facilitated terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India," the Treasury Department said in a statement.
"The United States and the United Nations have both targeted these four individuals for supporting al Qaeda and Lashkar-e Taiba," said Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Adam J Szubin. Contending that threats to global security require a global response, Szubin said the US was supporting the UN Security Council to "cut these terrorist supporters off from the international financial system". Al-Peshawari, Qasmani and Mujahid were added to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the Taliban in June this year. All UN member states are obligated to freeze funds and assets of such individuals and entities and to impose other sanctions like travel ban and arms embargo.
The US implements its asset freeze by blocking all property and interests in property of the designees in the US or under control of US persons, the Treasury Department said. It said among the four designated as global terrorists, Qasmani was chief coordinator for LeT's dealings with other groups and provided support for terrorist operations of the outfit that masterminded last year's Mumbai terror attacks. Qasmani has worked with LeT to facilitate terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai and the February 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing in Panipat.
"Qasmani conducted fundraising activities on behalf of LeT in 2005 and utilised money that he received from Dawood Ibrahim, an Indian crime figure and terrorist supporter, to facilitate the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai," it said. Since 2001, Qasmani has also provided financial and other support and services to al Qaeda, including facilitating the movement of its personnel in and out of Afghanistan and provision of supplies and weapons. In return for his support, al Qaeda provided Qasmani with operatives to support the Mumbai train bombing and that of the Samjhauta Express, a statement said. It said Al-Peshawari (Ameen al-Peshawari) was providing assistance, including funding and recruits to the al Qaeda network as of early 2008. He provided funding and other resources to Taliban, including explosive vests and actively facilitated activities of anti-Coalition militants in Afghanistan by raising money in support of terrorist activities.
Al Peshawari also began a campaign to support militants in Pakistan and as of 2007, was responsible for recruiting suicide bombers and for acquisition of funds and equipment for militants in Afghanistan, the statement said. Yahya Mujahid is the head of the LeT media department and has served as its spokesman since at least mid-2001, issuing statements on behalf of LeT on numerous occasions, including after the December 2001 attack on Indian Parliament and after Mumbai terror attack. As of late 2007, Mujahid was influential among the LeT central leadership, the treasury department said. Nasir Javaid is an LeT official involved in its operations and has served as a commander in Pakistan. From 2001 to at least 2008, Javaid was involved in LeT military training. In mid-2001, he assumed command of an LeT training centre in Pakistan.
