Sanctions against the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and mention of Lashkar terrorist Azam Cheema in a report on terrorism ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit is a shot in the arm for India, according to sources in the nation's intelligence agencies.
Intelligence Bureau sources told Rediff.com, the US move nails Pakistan's lie that Cheema is not involved in terrorism directed against India.
Although the American move is diplomatic in nature, IB sources said it could step up the pressure on Pakistan to act against Cheema and his agents of terror.
Cheema features in every dossier on terrorism India has handed over to Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks.
Cheema's role first came to light during the July 7, 2006
bombing of several suburban trains in Mumbai. It surfaced again after the 26/11 attacks. Indian investigators believed he played a major role in coordinating the intelligence for the attacks.
Cheema has been looking after Lashkar's India operations for about 15 years now. IB sources believe he is particularly efficient at conducting operations in Maharashtra.
Cheema, who was born in then East Pakistan in 1953, is ranked number 3 in the Lashkar terror hierarchy. His first assignment in India was in 1998 when he tried carrying out a series of attacks in New Delhi. The conspiracy was foiled. Undeterred by the setback, Cheema set up a route via Nepal to smuggle arms into India.
The Nepal route, IB sources, believed was used to smuggle in RDX, which was used in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.
Although Cheema -- who is currently based in Bahawalpur in Pakistan Punjab -- has been directed by the Lashkar leadership to lie low after the 26/11 attacks, Indian intelligence agencies believe he plays an active part in recruiting future terrorists.
