Pakistan's military takes a big hit

By Syed Saleem Shahzad
Asia Times

KARACHI - The United Nations Security Council's declaration this week of the Pakistani group Jamaatut Dawa as a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), which is banned as a terrorist organization, marks a major setback for Pakistan's military establishment.

The UN has subjected Jamaatut to sanctions as a terrorist group, including an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. Jamaatut claims it is a charity organization separate from the LET, which has been linked to the devastating attack on Mumbai last month in which close to 200 people died.

based in Washington and New York had lobbied hard to counter efforts by the Pakistani military establishment to protect its strategic assets, as Islamabad wants a real clampdown on the LET and Jamaatut.

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