WASHINGTON – The US administration on Thursday imposed sanctions againstthree individuals, allegedly having connections with Pakistan-based terroroutfits.
“The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control(OFAC) took action today to disrupt South Asian terrorist support networksby designating three individuals, Rahman Zeb Faqir Muhammad, Hizb UllahAstam Khan, and Dilawar Khan Nadir Khan, as Specially Designated GlobalTerrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targetsterrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism,”the US Department of the Treasury said in a statement.
“As a result of today’s designation, all property and interests in propertyof these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons aregenerally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, the statementsaid.
“Treasury continues to aggressively pursue and expose radicals who supportterrorist organizations and run illicit financial networks across SouthAsia. We are targeting operatives who have provided logistical support,improvised explosive devices, and other technological assistance toAl-Qaeda, Lashkar-e Tayyiba, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups,” saidSigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and FinancialIntelligence.
“This is part of this Administration’s broader efforts to disrupt terroristfundraising, and we call on the Pakistani government and others in theregion to work with us to deny sanctuary to these dangerous individuals andorganizations.”
It said that Rahman Zeb Faqir Muhammad was designated for providingfinancial, material, or technological support for, or other services to orin support of, Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT), a UN- and US-designated terroristorganization based in Pakistan.
Rahman Zeb was an LeT operative who for several years was responsible forcollecting funds and running a network for LeT in the Gulf.
In early 2016, he coordinated funds transfers with a Pakistan-based LeTfacilitator. As of mid-2014, he was a long-standing contact of LeT membersinvolved in Afghan operations, and he was involved in business activitieswith an LeT commander responsible for the group’s operations in Afghanistan.
Additionally, in mid-2014, Rahman Zeb facilitated travel for Fazeel-A-TulShaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen Al-Peshwari (aka Shaykh Aminullah) from Pakistanto the Gulf. OFAC designated Shaykh Aminullah in July 2009 for providingmaterial support to Al-Qaeda, LeT, and the Taliban.
Hizb Ullah Astam Khan was designated for acting for or on behalf of SDGTShaykh Aminullah.
As of 2016, Hizb Ullah facilitated support for Shaykh Aminullah and servedas a financial official of a Peshawar-based madrassa that was co-founded byShaykh Aminullah. As of early 2015, Hizb Ullah provided assistance toShaykh Aminullah during Shaykh Aminullah’s travel in the Gulf. Hizb Ullahalso facilitated Shaykh Aminullah’s travel in 2013 to the Gulf.
Hizb Ullah previously worked for Shaykh Aminullah as an improvisedexplosive device (IED) expert in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, where hedeployed IEDs targeting Afghan and Coalition forces. During that time,Hizb Ullah was involved with shipments of IED precursor chemicals suppliedfrom Pakistan to Afghanistan for U.S.-designated terrorist groups,including the Taliban and Jama’at ul Dawa al-Qu’ran (JDQ.)
Dilawar Khan Nadir Khan also was designated for acting for or on behalf ofShaykh Aminullah.
Dilawar has acted as Shaykh Aminullah’s assistant to include beingresponsible for handling Aminullah’s accommodations in Pakistan andrelaying Aminullah’s messages. Dilawar has also facilitated fundstransfers, including international transactions, on behalf of ShaykhAminullah. In 2014, Dilawar facilitated travel for Aminullah withinPakistan, as well as to the Gulf.
In 2013, Dilawar was one of the leaders of the Ganj Madrassa, which OFACdesignated in August 2013 for being controlled by Shaykh Aminullah and forproviding financial and material support to LeT and the Taliban.