UN slaps curbs on Haqqani network

UNITED NATIONS (PAN, and its chief of suicide operations, Qari Zakir.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the sanctions oblige all member states to implement an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo against Zakir and the Haqqani network.

A statement from Rice said: “Today’s action by the Security Council expands upon these (UN) sanctions and confirms the international community’s resolve to end the Haqqani Network’s ability to execute violent attacks in Afghanistan.”

The diplomat added the move also reflected the Security Council’s commitment to use and enforce sanctions against those who threatened peace in Afghanistan, in conjunction with a strong commitment to support Afghan-led peace and reconciliation.

The network — blamed for conducting a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan — and its chief suicide attack organiser Qari Zakir were added to the Taliban sanctions list.

According to the UN designation, the group has links to Al-Qaeda, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and several other militant outfits in Pakistan, including Tehrik Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Jaish-i-Mohammad.

Also on Monday, the US State Department imposed sanctions against Qari Zakir, accusing him of orchestrating a series of terrorist attacks. The move is aimed at freezing any property he may have under US jurisdiction and prohibiting any US transactions with him.

“He has been involved in many of the Haqqani Network’s high-profile suicide attacks and is partially responsible for making some of the final determinations on whether or not to proceed with large-scale attacks planned by local district-level commanders,” the State Department said in a statement.

In addition to serving as chief of suicide operations for the Haqqani network, which was designated as a terrorist organisation by the US in September, Zakir is the alleged operational commander for Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

Zakir approached the outfit’s leader Sirajuddin Haqqani in 2008, requesting financial assistance in exchange for expanding the group’s influence and operations into northern Afghanistan. He has become a trusted associate of Sirajuddin. 

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