US designates Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist organisation

Washington: The US Department of State on Wednesday designated Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

In an order, the State Department said that the designation of the HM as a terror organisation would deny the resources it needs to carry out terrorist attacks, its assets in the US would be frozen, and US citizens prohibited from engaging with the group.

The statement said: "The Department of State has designated Hizbul Mujahideen — also known as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, also known as HM — as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation 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. Among other consequences, all of HM's property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group.

"Formed in 1989, HM is one of the largest and oldest militant groups operating in Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen is led by Specially Designated Global Terrorist Mohammad Yusuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin. Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014, explosives attack in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which injured 17 people.

"Today's action notifies the US public and the international community that HM is a terrorist organisation. Terrorism designations expose and isolate organisations and individuals, and deny them access to the US financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of US agencies and other governments."