US takes action against Hafiz Saeed’s political party; adds MML to list of terrorist organisations

New Delhi/Washington: The United States has included the ‘Milli Muslim League’ (MLL), the political party launched by Hafiz Saeed in the list of terrorist organisations. This is another shock to Pakistan by the United States. Hafiz Saeed had vowed to avenge the death of 13 terrorists killed by India in the Shopian district of Jammu-Kashmir. Within a day of this, the United States Department of State included the MLL and the ‘Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir’ (TAJK) considered to be the political front of the terrorist organisation ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’, also in this terrorist list. India has welcomed this action by the United States.

Elections will be held in Pakistan in the month of July and Hafiz Saeed’s MLL party has made preparations to contest in these elections. For this, the Election commission of Pakistan has asked the party to get a certificate from the Home ministry certifying that the party is not involved in any illegal activity. Within a day of this request, after taking note of the political movements of the party, the United States has included it in the terrorist organisations’ list. The United States Department of State has claimed that the TAKJ is the political face of Lashkar-e-Taiba and has taken a similar action against them. The Department said that the ‘Lashkar’ may change its name as many times as it likes but the United States will make all possible efforts to ensure that they don’t get any legal status.

United States Department of State has also remarked that unless and until the ‘Laskhar’ gave up its path of violence, it cannot be given an opportunity to establish itself by political or any other means. The department has expressed regret that ‘Lashkar’ can operate freely in Pakistan and can even raise funding there. Likewise, the US State Department also noted that the ‘Lashkar’ members are openly assisting Hafiz Saeed for his election. India has heartily welcomed this US action and has retorted by stating that, ‘this goes to prove that Pakistan has completely failed in acting against the terrorists’.

13 terrorists were killed in the encounters in the Shopian district of Jammu-Kashmir and the deaths of these terrorists are being mourned at in Pakistan. Hafiz Saeed, in a video clip released on Monday, had declared that these killings would be avenged. Therefore, this United States action becomes very important for India and it is becoming clear that this can be a major setback for Pakistan.

The United States was demanding Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani Network until now. However, it is now demanding an action against the ‘Lashkar’ along with the Haqqani Network(HN). Pakistani analysts are blaming this on the increasing Indian influence over the United States. These analysts have warned that this could result in a major loss for Pakistan in the future.