Canada has listed a Taliban group in Pakistan as a terrorist organization, the minister of public safety said here on Tuesday.
Vic Toews said listing Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an
organization that has claimed responsibility for multiple suicide
attacks in Pakistan and the attempted bombing of Times Square in New
York City in May 2010, is an essential part of Canada's efforts to
combat terrorism and keep the communities safe.
"Fighting terrorism is one of the most important challenges we face
as a nation," he said in a statement. "The threat is real, persistent,
and evolving, and we remain vigilant in confronting it."
The listing of terrorist entities is an essential part of efforts to
combat terrorism, as it facilitates the prosecution of supporters of
terrorism and plays a key role in countering the financing of terrorist
activities.
For example, the listing prohibits all persons in Canada as well as
every Canadian abroad from knowingly dealing with assets owned or
controlled by the TTP.
In addition, it is an offence to knowingly participate in, contribute to, or facilitate certain activities of a listed entity.
Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, Canadian
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the move was part of a global
effort to crack down on terrorism.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan joins 43 other terrorist entities on Canada's list.
The Pakistani Taliban is not directly affiliated with the original
Afghan Taliban, which controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001,
sheltered al-Qaida terrorists and supported terrorist training.
Several years ago, Mullah Omar, leader of the Afghan Taliban, asked Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan to support the war in Afghanistan.
Pakistani Taliban leaders agreed to put aside their differences to
help counter increasing numbers of the United States troops in
Afghanistan. They reaffirmed their allegiance to Mullah Omar and to
Osama bin Laden.
The group has almost exclusively targeted elements of the Pakistani
state, though its leaders said in April 2010 they would make U.S.
cities a "main target" in response to U.S. drone strikes across the
Afghan-Pakistan border. Xinhua
