The United States Department of State yesterday announced Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group.
The AQIS has claimed responsibility of some recent killings of Bangladeshi activists and writers including Xulhaz Mannan and Avijit Roy.  
“The Department of State has announced Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224,” said a media note issued by the office of the spokesperson of the state department yesterday. The Department of State also designated AQIS leader Asim Umar under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.
“The consequences of this designation include a prohibition against US persons engaging in transactions with AQIS and Umar and the freezing of all of their property and interests in the United States,” said the note.
In addition, it said, “The consequences of AQIS’ FTO designation include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to the organisation.”
Al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced the formation of AQIS in a video address in September 2014.
“The group is led by Asim Umar, a former member of US designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation Harakat ul-Mujahidin. AQIS claimed responsibility for the September 6, 2014 attack on a naval dockyard in Karachi, in which militants attempted to hijack a Pakistani Navy frigate,” it said.
“AQIS has also claimed responsibility for the murders of activists and writers in Bangladesh, including that of US citizen Avijit Roy, US Embassy local employee Xulhaz Mannan, and of Bangladeshi nationals Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, Ahmed Rajib Haideer, and A.K.M. Shafiul Islam,” said the note.
“Today’s action notifies the US public and the international community that AQIS
and Umar are actively engaged in terrorism,” it said.