JeM under 'close' U.S. watch

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 10. The Bush administration has said that it was putting the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) under ``close'' watch for possible listing as a foreign terrorist organisation.

``We have agreed to take a very close look at them in relation to the criteria for listing groups on the foreign terrorist list,'' the State Department spokesman, Mr. Richard Boucher, said at a regular briefing.

The JeM is in the second category of the State Department list under ``other terrorist groups'' but has to be moved up the scale and formally designated if sanctions are to follow.

But the State Department would not comment on the implication of designating the JeM - putting Pakistan in the category of nations sponsoring terrorism.

``You are asking me a hypothetical question based on facts that I can't confirm. I would note that the Pakistan Government issued a very, very immediate and very, very strong condemnation of the attack that took place in Srinagar,'' he said, referring to the JeM's role in the recent car bomb attack.

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