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Britain Moves to Ban Pakistani Taliban

   VOA News  18 January 2011
   Visiting  British  Home  Secretary  Theresa  May  exchanges  copies of
   agreements  regarding  bilateral issues - including cooperation in the
   war against terrorism - with Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik
   in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct 26, 2010 (File Photo)

Photo: AP

   Visiting  British  Home  Secretary  Theresa  May  exchanges  copies of
   agreements  regarding  bilateral issues - including cooperation in the
   war against terrorism - with Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik
   in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct 26, 2010 (File Photo)

   The British government has moved to designate the Pakistani Taliban as
   a   terrorist  group,  a  move  that  would  make  membership  in  and
   fundraising for the organization illegal in Britain.
   British  Home  Secretary  Theresa  May  introduced  the order Tuesday,
   saying  it  was  a  tough,  but  necessary  step  in the fight against
   terrorism.  She  said  the  move is not a course of action the British
   government takes lightly.
   May  said  the  order  means  membership in the Tehrik-e-Taliban group
   would  be  a  criminal  offense,  and  that  the  group cannot operate
   lawfully in the country.
   The order must now be approved by Parliament.
   Tehrik-e-Taliban   is  based  in  Pakistan  and  closely  linked  with
   al-Qaida.  The  group  has  claimed  responsibility for attacks within
   Pakistan and has threatened attacks in the U.S. and Europe.
   Britain  has  banned  46  groups as terrorist organizations, including
   al-Qaida, under its Terrorism Act 2000.

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