'Completely unjustified': Pakistan fumes after US designates Syed Salahuddin a 'global terrorist'

Pakistan slammed as "completely unjustified" the US' designation of individuals supporting the right of "self-determination" of Kashmiris as terrorists, a day after America declared Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a "global terrorist". "Pakistan shall continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people for the realisation of the right to self-determination and the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions," the Foreign Ministry said here in a statement.
"The designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists is completely unjustified," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement without naming Salahuddin.

The "70-year long indigenous struggle of Kashmiris remains legitimate," the spokesperson claimed. "The gross and systematic violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people that have been recorded and reported by independent human rights bodies is a reality," he said. 

The Kashmiris remain undeterred and unbowed, he said. "Pakistan has demonstrated a longstanding commitment of combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The people and government of Pakistan have rendered immense sacrifices in both blood and treasure to end this scourge, which has been acknowledged by the international community," the spokesperson added.

The US yesterday declared Salahuddin as a "global terrorist", dealing a major blow to Pakistan.

In a notification, the State Department said Salahuddin, who hails from Kashmir and is based in Pakistan for the last 28 years, "has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism."
The US took the step against the militant group's 71- year-old head, whose original name is Mohammed Yusuf Shah, as he had "vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, threatened to train more Kashmiri suicide bombers, and vowed to turn the Kashmir Valley into a graveyard for Indian forces". 

he US government's decision to declare Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist would help in choking his movements and financing, union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said today.
Salahuddin, head of the Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, was a "coward" who had "run away" to Pakistan, Mehrishi said.

"He (Salahuddin) is a terrorist and he has now been declared so. This declaration by the US may help in impacting his movements and funding," Mehrishi told reporters on the sidelines of an event of border guarding force

 In a stern message to Pakistan, India and the US today asked the country to ensure that its soil is not used for cross-border terror with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump vowing to boost their fight against terror groups like ISIS, JeM, LeT and D-Company. 

As the two leaders held their maiden meeting at the White House and displayed a lot of chemistry, the two countries also called on Pakistan to "expeditiously" bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot attacks and other cross-border terrorist assaults by Pakistan-based groups.
Modi and Trump vowed to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.
"Eliminating terrorism is among the top-most priorities for us," Modi told reporters in his joint press statement with Trump at the White House Rose Garden.

A joint statement issued after their meeting said the two sides "called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks on other countries." Ahead of the meeting, the US State Department had set the tone for the summit by declaring Syed Salahuddin, chief of Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, as a 'global terrorist'.

The State Department's action sent out a strong message against the terrorism emanating from Pakistan which is hurting India.

During their meeting, the two leaders also "committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT), D-Company (led by underworld don and terror mastermind Dawood Ibrahim), and their affiliates." During the meeting, that was high on symbolism, there was no mention of contentious issues like the H-1B visa reform and climate change.