Author: PTI
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: December 1, 2005
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Hizb+added+to+EU+terror+list&id=81928&headline=Hizb~added~to~EU~terror~list
The European Union (EU) has added Hizbul Mujahedeen,
the Pakistan-based outfit carrying out terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir
for over a decade, to its list of terrorist organisations.
The EU's decision strikes a major blow to
the group as restrictive anti-terror measures will be applied to it, including
a freeze on its funds, assets and economic resources.
The Hizbul Mujahedeen (HM) is among the groups
active in Jammu and Kashmir and reportedly has strong ties to the Muslim fundamentalist
group Jamaat-e-Islami.
Founded in late 1980s, the group's primary
focus is Indian security forces and politicians in Jammu and Kashmir. It also
occasionally strikes at civilian targets.
It reportedly operated in Afghanistan and
is led by Syed Salahuddin.
The outfit claimed responsibility for a car
bomb late last month that killed a border guard and injured 21 people on the
outskirts of Srinagar.
The EU blacklist was drawn up late in 2001,
following the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington and is revised
regularly.
Among those already declared terrorist groups
are the radical Palestinian group Hamas and the former Basque separatist party
Batasuna.
