UN Security Council imposes sanctions against Haqqani Network

The United Nations (UN) Security Council has imposed sanctions against the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network which is accused of carrying out a number of deadly attacks in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

The UN committee that oversees sanctions against the Taliban imposed global sanctions on the fierce militant group considered a major threat to the US and allied forces in Afghanistan. It also imposed sanction against its chief of suicide operations.

The Taliban sanctions committee ordered all 193 UN member states to freeze the assets and institute an arms embargo against the Haqqani network, saying the group is linked to al-Qaida and other militant organizations and is responsible for suicide attacks and targeted assassination as well as kidnappings in Kabul and Afghan provinces.

It was also blamed for spectacular attacks on Afghan government and NATO targets across Afghanistan as well as kidnappings and other murders.

The Haqqani network was also responsible for the September 2011 attack against the US Embassy and the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul. Sixteen Afghans were killed in the 19-hour attack, including at least six children, the UN said in its listing.

It also directed an asset freeze, arms embargo and travel ban against Afghan-born Abdul Rauf Zakir, also known as Qari Zakir, who it said oversees training of suicide attackers and provides instructions on how to construct improvised explosive devices.

The Security Council committee described him as chief of suicide operations for the Haqqani Network under its leader, Sirajuddin Jallaloudine Haqqani, and in charge of all operations in Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

The United States earlier Monday also imposed financial sanctions against Zakir and labeled him a global terrorist.

The decision to impose sanctions required approval by all 15 Security Council members, including Pakistan, and diplomats said its agreement was considered very significant since the Haqqani Network is based in Pakistan’s tribal region of North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan.

It is vital to mention here that the militant outfit has been widely linked to Pakistan and blamed for a string of murderous attacks in Afghanistan.

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Posted by Web Desk on Nov 6 2012. Filed under Pakistan, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.