The Trump administration on Friday slapped sanctions on six Taliban and the Haqqani network leaders and pressed Pakistan to work with the US to deny militants safe havens on its soil and aggressively target their fund-raising activities.
The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. It has also been blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.
In a scathing attack on Pakistan, US President Donald Trump, in his first tweet of 2018, had accused it of “lies and deceit” and of fooling US
leaders while sheltering terrorists. The latest action by the US was taken against four Taliban leaders — Abdul Samad Sani, Abdul Qadeer Basir Abdul Baseer, Hafiz Mohammed Popalzai and Maulawi Inayatullah — and two Haqqani leaders Faqir Muhammad and Gula Khan Hamidi.
All the six militants have been designated as global terrorists by the US’ Department of Treasury. As a result, all property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and the US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
“We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The action supports Trump's South Asia Strategy by disrupting terrorist organisations and publically exposing individuals who facilitate their activities, he said.