During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, New Delhi and Washington D.C. have agreed to work together to dismantle terrorist outfits such as Al Qaeda, Lashkar-i-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-i-Muhammad and the Haqqani Network, most of whom are based in Pakistan.

Also read: US, India vow to dismantle LeT, Al Qaeda

The US Treasury Department has also slapped sanctions on the LeT and Harkatul Mujahideen (HuM) and froze the assets of their leaders. To understand the political and real-world consequences of these actions, Dawn spoke to Ahmer Bilal Soofi, an expert in international law.

What political consequences does this announcement entail?

Both LeT and HuM had already been declared terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 1267 and, therefore, this particular announcement will help the Indians effectively highlight their stance over the disputed territory of Kashmir. After the UN sanctions, cross-border infiltration has been reduced drastically and such an announcement at this particular time would also help the Indians to effectively pursue their agenda on other forums as well.

Will this announcement get India international support for their cause?

Definitely, yes. The international community had raised concerns over human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir, but after the UN resolution and the US sanctions on groups considered to be ‘terrorists’ by India, it seems that the international community is less interested in human rights violations and more concerned about terrorists’ networks.

At the same time, I think Pakistan failed to adequately project its case at the global level. Pakistan has been and is still fighting a war against terrorists; it had arrested those accused of the Mumbai attacks accused and submitted their challan in an anti terrorism court. A state can only bring the accused to court; it is up to the judiciary to decide the matter and the Pakistani government has to convince the international community on this front as well.

What does this mean for individuals associated with the LeT?

Under US law, any person involved in financing an organisation declared a terrorist organisation by the Treasury Department may be prosecuted individually. But for this the said department needs to define the scope of the sanctions.

— Text by Malik Asad

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2014