Washington, Oct 17: In a significant action vindicating India's assertion, the us has declared as "global terrorist" Mumbai underworld don Dawood Ibrahim based in Karachi with Pakistani passport, saying he has links with al Qaeda and is financing activities of Lashkar-e-Toiba and other Islamic extremists to destabilise the Indian government. Washington will now be requesting the United Nations to list him as a global terrorist, thereby making it obligatory on the part of all member states, including Pakistan, to take similar action.

"Ibrahim Dawood alias Ebrahim Dawood alias Hassan Sheikh Dawood, Karachi, possessing Pakistani passport number 0869537 (individual category)" has been "specially designated global terrorist" and his assets within the US have been frozen, the treasury department announced yesterday.

US finding that Dawood Ibrahim was in Karachi and possessed Pakistani passport vindicated India's assertion that he is in Pakistan though President Pervez Musharraf has denied it. The US action would help India in mounting pressure on Pakistan to send back the fugitive to India, who is among the 20 most-wanted persons sought by New Delhi from Islamabad. He is wanted by India among other crimes, in connection with his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Bureau Report