ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan banned the Taliban on Monday after they claimed responsibility for one of the country’s worst-ever terrorist attacks, toughening its stance a week after U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf was ousted from power.

The Interior Ministry announced the decision 24 hours after rejecting a Taliban cease-fire offer in Bajur, a rumored hiding place for Osama bin Laden, where an army offensive has reportedly killed hundreds in recent weeks. Another 200,000 people have fled their homes.

“This organization is a terrorist organization and created mayhem against public life,” ministry chief Rehman Malik said in announcing the ban on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group for militants along the Afghan border that fights against the government.

Anyone aiding a proscribed organization — through financial assistance, promoting them in literature or in other ways — can be jailed for up to 10 years under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws.

Spokesman Lou Fintor said the U.S. Embassy had seen media reports about the ban. “Pakistan’s leadership has clearly stated their commitment to pursuing and eliminating terrorism and securing Pakistan’s borders for the benefit of its own citizens,” he said.