The United States has slapped sanctions on Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba's top eight commanders, including Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Sajid Mir and its founder Hafiz Saeed's son. Announcing the sanctions, the US said LeT, despite being designated as a foreign terrorist organisation in January 2002, continues to operate in Pakistan and throughout the region and engage in terrorist activities worldwide.

US Department of Treasury added that LeT has conducted numerous terrorist acts against Pakistani, Indian, Afghan and US interests and is responsible for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed more than 160 people, including six Americans, and the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed more than 180 people.

Welcoming the decision, India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai has said that the move reflects the growing international support to combat terrorism.

Strategic analyst C. Uday Bhaskar opined that the move will exert more pressure on Pakistan to take action against the outfit.