Pakistan has termed the US decision designating Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) a Foreign Terrorist Organization unjustifiable. According to Radio Pakistan, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan was disappointed with the US decision and he blamed India for it.
Continuing the Pakistan's anti-propaganda on Kashmir, which is an integral part of India and a part of which is in Pakistan's forceful occupation, Zakaria said India was in forceful occupation of Kashmir and reiterated the worn out line that "Pakistan would continue its moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiri people's struggle for their just right of self determination."
After declaring HM chief Syed Salahuddin a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in June, the US has now proscribed his group as well. Salahuddin also heads the United Jihad Council, the umbrella outfit of terror groups operating in Kashmir.
“The Department of State has designated Hizbul Mujahideen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. These designations seek to deny HM the resources it needs to carry out terrorist attacks”, a US State Department release yesterday said.
Pakistan had reacted in the same expected manner when the US had designation Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist in June coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit and his first Summit with US President Donald Trump. It Foreign Office had released a statement which called the US decision on Syed Salahuddin 'completely unjustified'.
HM is the largest terror outfit in Jammu and Kashmir. It was formed in September 1989 as Jamaat-e-Islami's militant wing by Ahsan Dar at Pakistan's ISI's commands. Salahuddin was appointed its patron in 1990 and later became its chief. HM is based out of Pak-occupied-Kashmir's Muzaffarabad and according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, its current cadre strength is around 1500.
©SantoshChaubey
