"There were many other terrorists but it was for a reason we went for Salahuddin and Hizbul," a senior official told ET.India, ahead of the big meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, had moved the US administration to designate Salahuddin, who was riding back to relevance with slain Wani as the face of a renewed HM in the Valley.Washington's consent gave New Delhi a significant takeaway from Modi's maiden visit to the US. The move, according to South Block officials, also conveyed that the Trump administration is less inclined to use Pakistan to balance India.The US stand on HM was significant after Pakistan upped the ante last year in almost every relevant world forum, portraying Wani as the face of "struggle" against the Indian state in Kashmir.India launched its own counter-offensive by reaching out to members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, some of whom opposed references to Kashmir in the grouping's meet at Tashkent last year.While designating the HM chief, the US State Department press statement read: "Mohammad Yusuf Shah, AKA Syed Salahuddin, is the senior leader of the militant group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). In September, 2016, Salahuddin vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, threatened to train more Kashmiri suicide bombers, and vowed to turn the Kashmir valley "into a graveyard for Indian forces".Under Salahuddin's tenure as senior HM leader, HM has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which injured 17 people. "Designations of terrorist individuals and groups are meant to "expose and isolate organisations and individuals" so that they get no access to the US financial system. "As a consequence of this designation, US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with Salahuddin and all of Salahuddin's property and interests in property subject to United States jurisdiction are blocked," stated the State Department.

Source: Economic Times June 27, 2017 18:56 UTC