Rebel leader designated as terrorist

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): The United States on Tuesday designated Qari Saifullah, the Taliban shadow deputy governor and an operational commander in southern Zabul province, as a global terrorist.

As an operational commander, Saifullah used Taliban fighters to organise terrorist activities against Afghan and coalition forces in Zabul Province, the State Department said. 

Saifullah also ordered his subordinates to conduct improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, small arms fire and rocket assault in the Province against the government of Afghanistan, it added.

On January 14, 2012, six insurgents subordinate to Saifullah attacked a Romanian convoy.  Under his direction, one suicide bomber planned to attack the provincial reconstruction) in Qalat, while another planned to attack Forward Operating Base Bullard in Shahjoi district in September 2011.

 On November 25, 2010, he ordered a Taliban commander and shadow sub-governor of Atghar district to transport light weapons to Qalat. The shipment included approximately 25 Kalashnikov rifles, 10 machine guns, five RPGs and 20 grenades. 

Suicide bombers planned to use the weapons against coalition and Afghan forces, specifically targeting the Second Afghan National Army Brigade and Police Headquarters in Qalat, the State Department said.

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