India welcomes US move against Hizbul

India on Friday welcomed the designation by the US of the Hizbul Mujahideen as a foreign terrorist organisation.

"We welcome the designation of Hizbul Mujahideen that has been responsible for carrying out heinous acts of terrorism and taking innocent lives in Jammu and Kashmir as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

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

The State Department said the designation would deny the outfit the resources it needed to carry out terrorist attacks, its assets in the US would be frozen and US citizens would be prohibited from engaging with the group.

Kumar also referred to the US designating Hizbul commander Syed Salahuddin as a specially designated foreign terrorist during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in June and said "these designations reflect the joint commitment of India and the US to firmly deal with terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"It is an obligation for everyone to end moral, diplomatic and material support to such internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals," he said, without mentioning Pakistan.

"No cause or reason can justify continued profession of support, shelter or sanctuary to such entities and individuals in any manner," the spokesperson added.

--IANS

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