Reports: US shares list of Pakistan-based terror groups with Islamabad
The US has shared a list of 20 terrorist groups with Islamabad which it believes are operating from Pakistan and targeting India and Afghanistan, Pakistani news network Dawn has reported. The list includes anti-India groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Harakatul Mujahideen (HUM). The list comes days after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said his country won't tolerate terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.
Swaraj slams Pak-based terror in joint statement with US counterpart
On October 25, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed Pakistan, saying it must act against terrorist groups in its territory, during a joint statement with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New Delhi. Tillerson acknowledged, "Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated." "Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan which is now threatening the stability of the Pakistan government," he added.
How the terrorist groups are classified
The list submitted by the US classifies Pakistan-based terrorists into three groups: 1) those targeting Afghanistan, 2) those behind attacks on Pakistan and 3) those launching attacks in India.
US considers LeT South Asia's largest terrorist groups
The India-specific LeT, JeM, and HUM have been named in the list. The US said the HUM is a Pakistan-based group operates predominantly in Kashmir and has links to al-Qaeda. The US considers the LeT as one of South Asia's largest and most active terrorist groups. It has joined India in blaming the LeT for the 2001 Indian parliament attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
US list includes Haqqani network, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
The US has named the dreaded Haqqani network, responsible for several attacks in Afghanistan, at the top of the list. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which comprises of 13 terrorist affiliates, has been blamed for attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. TTP-affiliate Tariq Gidar Group has been blamed for some of Pakistan's deadliest attacks, including the 2014 school massacre in Peshawar that left 132 children dead.
