US Designates Hizbul Mujahideen as Foreign Terrorist Organization

• Hizbul Mujahideen, formed in the year 1989, is one of the oldest as well as the largest militant groups that is operating actively in Kashmir
• The militant group of Hizbul Mujahideen is known to have claimed the responsibility for multiple attacks

Washington D.C. [United States], Aug 16, 2017: The Hizbul Mujahideen has been referred as a terrorist-organization by the U.S. Department of State, under the Immigration and Nationality Act of section 219.

A statement by U.S. State Department reports that "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 U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group," ANI reports stated.

ALSO READ: 'Blood Stained Hands' Plan to Take Over Pakistan's Political Reigns as Terrorist Organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Prepares to Enter Politics

It further added that "today's action notifies the U.S. public and the international community that HM is a terrorist organization. Terrorism designations expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments."

According to ANI reports, Hizbul Mujahideen, formed in the year 1989, is one of the oldest as well as the largest militant groups that are operating actively in Kashmir.

The infamous militant group is led by Mohammad Yusuf Shah, the Specially Designated Global Terrorist, who is also referred as Syed Salahuddin. He was named as Global Terrorist by the US a couple of months back.

Reportedly, the militant group of Hizbul Mujahideen is known to have claimed the responsibility for multiple attacks which includes the explosive attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 17 people severely injured, in the month of April of 2014.

Salahuddin had vowed in the month of September 2016, to bar any sort of peaceful conclusion of the conflict regarding Kashmir. He further gave threats to train many more suicide bombers in Kashmir, and that he would turn the valley into a complete graveyard for the Indian Forces.