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US puts 39 terrorist groups on new visa blacklist
The US has placed 39 alleged terrorist groups - including Jaish-i-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba - and affiliated businesses on a new visa blacklist aimed at plugging loopholes in previous regulations that allowed members of the organisations to legally enter the country.
The US has placed 39 alleged terrorist groups - including Jaish-i-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba - and affiliated businesses on a new visa blacklist aimed at plugging loopholes in previous regulations that allowed members of the organisations to legally enter the country.
The groups, many of which have links to suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, were placed on Thursday on what is being called the terrorist exclusion list mandated by the USA patriot act, adopted in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
"By designating these groups, (Secretary of State Colin Powell) has strengthened the united states' ability to exclude supporters of terrorism from the country or to deport them if they are found within our borders," the state department said in a statement.
Deputy department spokesman Philip Reeker said the new list would be expanded as we identify and confirm additional entities that provide support to terrorists. Some of the groups on the new list appear to be obscure revolutionary organisations which have operated without much public notice including the oddly-named Algerian organisation, 'The Pentagon Gang'.
Others, such as the Islamic Army of Aden, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad, are slightly more well-known for their alleged links to bin laden or high profile operations in Kashmir.
Bureau Report
The groups, many of which have links to suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, were placed on Thursday on what is being called the terrorist exclusion list mandated by the USA patriot act, adopted in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
"By designating these groups, (Secretary of State Colin Powell) has strengthened the united states' ability to exclude supporters of terrorism from the country or to deport them if they are found within our borders," the state department said in a statement.
Deputy department spokesman Philip Reeker said the new list would be expanded as we identify and confirm additional entities that provide support to terrorists. Some of the groups on the new list appear to be obscure revolutionary organisations which have operated without much public notice including the oddly-named Algerian organisation, 'The Pentagon Gang'.
Others, such as the Islamic Army of Aden, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad, are slightly more well-known for their alleged links to bin laden or high profile operations in Kashmir.
Bureau Report