Close on the heels of the Supreme Court upholding the death sentence against Ajmal Kasab, the United States Treasury Department has announced sanctions on eight top Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders, including many directly involved in the 26/11 attacks.
In a statement released late on Thursday, David Cohen, Under-Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, described the sanctions as the “Treasury’s most comprehensive to date against this group.” Mr Cohen said: “Attacking LeT’s facilitation networks is particularly important, since charitable donations LeT raises in Pakistan — its primary revenue source — are used to fuel the LeT’s militant operations.”
Key among the individuals sanctioned is Sajid Mir, alleged to be the Lashkar’s top commander for transcontinental operations. Mr. Mir controlled Pakistani-American jihadist David Headley, who conducted the reconnaissance operations that facilitated the Mumbai attacks.