The United States has stiffened its crackdown on militant groups Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), active in Jammu and Kashmir, and targeted alternate names the groups have used in a bid to evade authorities.Washington originally designated Lashkar and Jaish as terrorist groups under US law in October, 2001, in the early stage of its campaign against global terrorism.Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday renewed the designation, due to expire later this month, in the Federal Register, a gazette of government business. Both the groups have been blamed for attacks in J-K.The 36 groups designated by the US as foreign terrorist organisations face a range of sanctions, including a travel ban on their members entering the US.Americans are also prohibited from forming any economic relationships with members of the targeted groups, which are liable to have their assets in US financial institutions frozen. — (PTI)
