Fresh US sanctions on LeT, JeM ahead of Obama?s India visit

The United States has imposed fresh sanctions against Pakistan-based extremists for targeting India and banned US citizens from dealing with the terror groups or their men.

The US has decided to freeze all US assets held by Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jasih-e-Mohammad (JeM), US Treasury undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey said on Thursday.

The move comes just two days before President Barack Obama starts his India visit.

A ban on any transaction with these groups by US citizens has also been banned, Levey added.

The Treasury department also blacklisted specific fronts and individuals, including Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Azam Cheema, LeT?s Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki and the Al Rehmat Trust, said to be an operational front for JeM.

Noting that the sanctions were ?an important step in incapacitating the operational and financial networks of these deadly organizations?, Levey said LeT and JeM ?have proven both their willingness and ability to execute attacks against innocent civilians.?

Obama will visit the memorial of Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks victims during his Mumbai stay.

Close to 200 people were killed and hundreds others were injured when a group of Pakistani gunmen launched a series of attacks on several Mumbai landmarks on November 26, 2008.