For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 21, 2001
President's Statement on Pakistan Extremist Groups
Statement by the President
Pakistan Extremist Groups
Yesterday, at a ceremony marking the 100th day since the September 11
terrorist attacks, I detailed actions the United States Government has
taken in response to terrorist attacks here and abroad.
At the same time, I announced that the U.S. Government had blocked
the assets of two more terrorist organizations:
- Umma Tameer-e-Nau (UTN), an organization
that claimed to feed the hungry and needy of Afghanistan but that in
fact provided information about nuclear weapons to al-Qaida; and
- Lashkar-e-Taiba, a stateless sponsor of
terrorism that has conducted operations against Indian troops and
civilian targets.
I also condemned the terrorist attacks against the Indian
Parliament and the Kashmir Legislature and extended condolences to the
Indian Government and the families of the victims.
These attacks were meant to strike at India's democracy and kill
its leaders, but were also intended to undermine Pakistan, harm the
rapidly improving U.S.-Pakistan relationship, and to destabilize the
global coalition against terrorism.
I have strongly condemned the attacks. I call upon
President Musharraf to take decisive action against Lashkar-e-Taiba,
Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist organizations, their leaders,
finances, and activities.
President Musharraf has condemned the terrorist attacks on the
Legislature in Srinagar and on the Indian Parliament. He has
said that he would move against those involved in the
attacks. As President Musharraf does so, he will have our
full support.
# # #
|