US slaps sanctions on terrorist groups behind Mumbai attacks ahead of Obama visit

WASHINGTON - The United States has imposed sanctions on two Pakistan-based terrorist organizations responsible for the 2008 and 2006 attacks in Mumbai.

The Treasury Department said that it targeted the financial and support networks of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM).

It also took action against Azam Cheema, saying that he had helped train operatives for the 26/11, 2008, Mumbai attacks and was the “mastermind” behind the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings carried out by LeT.

The sanctions also targeted Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, head of LeT’s political arm, Al Rehmat Trust, an operational front for JeM and Mohammed Masood Azhar Alvi, JeM’s founder and leader.

“LeT and JeM have proven both their willingness and ability to execute attacks against innocent civilians,” the Daily Times quoted Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, as saying in a statement.

“Today’s action - including the designation of Azam Cheema, one of LeT’s leading commanders who was involved in the 2008 and 2006 Mumbai attacks - is an important step in incapacitating the operational and financial networks of these deadly organizations,” he added.

The sanction prohibits all transactions with US citizens and companies, and freezes any of the targets’ assets under US jurisdiction. (ANI)