The Pakistani government listed the Jammat-ud Daawa, an off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba, under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) after the UN Security Council added several organizations, including the LeT, to the list of terrorist organizations based in Pakistan1. Under the renewed international pressure, Islamabad asked the concerned authorities to keep a strict watch on the activities of these groups. Agencies raided offices of these organisations and seized assets held by them2.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government turned down India’s demand to extradite militants. This was in response to the second demarche sent by India for handing over three militants charged in the Mumbai attack3. In a related development, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, met in Islamabad on December 8 and decided to extend cooperation to India in the wake of recent developments4.

In a daring operation, militants burnt down at least 160 trucks carrying NATO supplies in Peshawar on December 75. Armed militants were reported to have burnt another 53 NATO vehicles on the next day in a similar fashion when they barged into the Jamil Terminal in Peshawar6.

In other developments, the Bush Administration has reportedly prepared a strategic review of issues which will be confronted by the Obama administration on the Pak-Afghan border. The review notes that US aid to Pakistan shall be subject to the latter’s success in fighting militants effectively7.

• 1. “Noose tightens around Hafiz Saeed, LT and Jamaatud Daawa,” Daily Times, December 12, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\12\story_12-12-2008_pg1_1
• 2. “Agencies given go-ahead to raid Daawa hideouts,” The News, December 13, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 3. Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Extradition demand rejected in response to demarche,” Dawn, December 9, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/09/top3.htm
• 4. “Defence Committee of the Cabinet renews offer of full cooperation with India: ‘Pakistan will not allow terrorism from its soil’,” Daily Times, December 9, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg1_1
• 5. “NATO trucks burnt in Peshawar,” Daily Times, December 8, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg1_1
• 6. Ali Hazrat Bacha, “New attack on Nato supplies; 53 trucks torched,” Dawn, December 9, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/09/top5.htm
• 7. “US report urges revamping of Pakistan aid,” The News, December 8, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp