What US designating Hafiz Saeed's Milli Muslim League as terrorist outfit means for India

In a major blow to 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his networks, the US has declared Milli Muslim League (MML), the political front of Jamaat-ud Dawa, as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). 

The United States has added the Milli Muslim League (MML) and Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAJK) to its list of foreign terrorist organisations, reasoning that both were fronts for the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "The aliases - MML and TAJK - have been added to LeT’s designations as an FTO under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224," the US State Department website said.

Significantly, the United States designating MML as FTO comes at a time when several political parties have started registering themselves for the general elections to be held in Pakistan in July.

Clearly, the MML will face difficulties in registering itself as a political party with the Pakistani Election Commission. This action by the United States also derives importance from the fact that Pakistan has always denied associating Hafiz Saeed and his activities with "terrorism". In fact, it has been providing safe haven and protection to the Mumbai attack mastermind. The US action also affirms India's stand that those perpetrating terrorism are present in Pakistan, getting protection from the Pakistan Army, the ISI and the Pakistan government.

The US knows and understands very well that Pakistan gives shelter, training and arms to the terrorist organisations. The huge hideouts of these terrorist outfits present in Pakistan themselves remain a headache for America. The US finds itself in a fix over criticism coming from the whole world that despite knowing about Pakistan’s track record in supporting terrorists, it gives Pakistan much leverage in the form of heavy military and financial support while Pakistan uses it to spread terrorism, especially against India.

On several occasions India has raised its objections before the US and asked it to take strict action against Pakistan. Now apart from the MML, the US has also included Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAJK) in the list of terrorist groups. 

It is well known that no terrorist organisation can carry out its activities without the consent of the Pakistani government and its army. Pakistan had, in fact, refused to accept Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist. It will now be worthwhile to see how Pakistan protects terrorists like Hafiz Saeed after the US action. It was in 1980s that Hafiz Saeed had formed the Laskhar-e-Taiba with the objective to deal with Soviet troops in Afghanistan. Later, Pakistan started using it in Kashmir against India. It was LeT that had carried out attacks on Indian Parliament and in Mumbai.

The LeT was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation and specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) group on December 26, 2001. Its leader, Saeed, is also designated as an SDGT. Although Pakistan had banned the LeT, it was allowed to keep functioning in its new avatar as Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). Later, the JuD was also declared a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations.

It is not hidden from anyone that Hafiz Saeed has managed to continue running his terrorist activities by creating a new organisation with new names every time. In January 2017, LeT began operating under the name of TAJK. Under this name, the LeT has engaged in inciting terrorism, as well as recruiting and fundraising. In August 2017, Saeed created the MML to serve as a political front for the group.

The US designating Milli Muslim League (MML), the political front of Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawa, as a foreign terrorist organisation is major move ahead of the general elections in Pakistan. MML’s foray into politics came about last year when it made an impressive show at Lahore's NA-120 by-election, where a candidate backed by it gained the fourth place. Candidates backed by the party - since it is yet to be registered as a political party - have made similar gains in subsequent by-elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

The US’s action comes as a shot in the arm of India. Reacting to the US move, an MEA spokesperson said: “India welcomes the action taken by the US. It vindicates India’s position that Pakistan has not taken effective action against terrorist groups and individuals.

“It is also cognisance 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 designation is a rejection of the attempts being made in Pakistan to mainstream terrorist individuals and entities; and highlights Pakistan’s failure to fulfil its international obligation to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries, and disrupt terror financing,” the spokesperson pointed out.

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