The banned groups are better known by their original names. Two are Sunni Muslim militant parties, Sipah-e-Sahab and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have close links to al-Qa'eda. The third is a Shia party, Therik-e-Jafria.
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India waits to see if ban on groups works
NEW DELHI (AFP) - India on Sunday said it was waiting to see how well a Pakistani ban on three religious outfits would work. ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating,’ said a foreign ministry official in New Delhi, adding that previous bans by Pakistan on such groups had been inadequate.
A formal reaction on the ban was expected on Monday from the Indian foreign ministry.
India has repeatedly demanded the dismantling of what it calls ‘terrorist training camps in Pakistan’ and an end to the militancy in Kashmir before it can sit down for talks with Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute.
On Saturday President Pervez Musharraf banned three religious outfits as the government sought to curb attempts by outlawed militant groups to resume their activities under new names.
The move follows US ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell’s concerns over the re-emergence of the banned groups under different names on Thursday. The US envoy cited Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which were banned by Musharraf in January 2002 with three other extremist organisations.
The banned groups are better known by their original names. Two are Sunni Muslim militant parties, Sipah-e-Sahab and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which have close links to al-Qa'eda. The third is a Shia party, Therik-e-Jafria.
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