US Designates 4 Militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan as ‘Terrorists'

Facts

• The US State Department declared two militant groups, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as terrorist organizations in a statement on Thursday. The two groups reportedly operate out of Afghanistan but have connections in Pakistan.
• Four militant commanders from the groups were also named as Specially Designated Global Terrorists: emir of AQIS Osama Mehmood, deputy emir of AQIS Atif Yahya Ghouri, AQIS recruiting branch leader Muhammad Maruf, and deputy emir of TTP Qari Amjad.
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the US is committed to using its full set of counterterrorism tools to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
• The State Department’s designation of the TTP comes days after the group ended a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistani government. On Nov. 30, the TTP claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in the Pakistani city of Quetta.
• As designated terrorists, all of the men’s property and interests subject to US jurisdiction are blocked. US persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the four men as well.
• Pakistani officials have yet to comment on the designations, but the US Central Command says military leaders from both countries have met to discuss US-Pakistan security cooperation.

Sources: ABC, NBC Boston, Pak Observer, Al Jazeera, Pakistan Today, and Washington Post.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by U.S. State. Blinken and the State Department are committed to seeing to it that international terrorists aren't able to operate with impunity in Afghanistan. This was a necessary decision taken in the name of duty to counter militant terrorism.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The New York Times. The US is once again meddling in affairs that are none of its business. The so-called “terrorist” organizations are fighting for their own sovereign and religious objectives that are of no concern to the West.
• Cynical narrative, as provided by The New York Times. From provoking nuclear war with Russia to illegal wars in the Middle East, the US is always on the side of conflict, and WWIII looms closer everyday with these kinds of actions. The US can no longer do as it pleases — its adversaries are strong enough to do Americans, and the rest of the world, immense harm.