*ISLAMABAD: In yet another diplomatic victory for Pakistan, United Statesstate department accepts Pakistan’s long standing demand against TTP Chiefblacklisting as global terrorist.*
*United States has designated TTP Chief Noor Wali Mehsud as globalterrorist along with strong sanctions against him.*
The United States on Tuesday designated the chief of thebanned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Noor Wali Mehsud as a globalterrorist and imposed sanctions on multiple “terrorists and theirsupporters”.
Mehsud took over the TTP in June 2018 following the death of MullahFazlullah in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order “modernising andstrengthening sanctions authorities to combat terrorism”, said a pressstatemenlinkby the US State Department. The order was signed on the 18th anniversary ofthe 9/11 attacks.
“Noor Wali, also known as Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, was named the leader ofTehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in June 2018 following the death of formerTTP leader Mullah Fazlullah,” said the US State Dept statement. “Under NoorWali’s leadership, TTP has claimed responsibility for numerous deadlyterrorist attacks across Pakistan”.
The TTP chief is among 12 Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)leaders of previously designated groups including TTP, Hizbullah, Hamas,Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Islamic State (IS), IS-Philippines,ISIS-West Africa and an al Qaeda affiliated group fighting in Syria.
“Terrorist designations expose and isolate organisations and individuals,and deny them access to the US financial system. Moreover, designations canassist the law enforcement activities of US agencies and othergovernments,” elaborates the US State Dept.