Ahead of Obama's visit, US imposes sanctions against Pakistan terror groups

New Delhi: Hours before US President Barack Obama left for his visit to India, the US has slapped sanctions against Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

It has also targeted Lashkar commander Azam Cheema, who helped trained militants for the 26/11 attacks, and was the mastermind in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.

The US department of treasury also acted against Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, head of LeT's political affairs department, Al Rehmat Trust, an operational front for JeM and Maulana Masood Azhar Alvi, JeM's founder and leader.
 
The US says it's an important step in incapacitating the operational and financial networks of these deadly organisations.

The sanctions ban all transactions with US citizens and companies and freezes any of the targets' assets under US jurisdiction.

India has been asking the US to prevail upon Pakistan to take tough action against militant groups operating from its territory.

America's move comes just ahead of Obama's arrival in Mumbai, where he will visit the memorial for 26/11 victims this weekend.