Why did this take so long? The order freezes the U.S.-held assets of Gul Agha Ishakzai, head of the Taliban’s financial commission; Amir Abdullah, former treasurer to Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar; and Nasiruddin Haqqani, an emissary for the Haqqani Network. The order also prohibits U.S. businesses and individuals from engaging in any transactions with them.

By Ashish Kumar Sen at Washington Times

The Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions against three key leaders and financiers of the Taliban and its affiliated group, the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network.

The order freezes the U.S.-held assets of Gul Agha Ishakzai, head of the Taliban’s financial commission; Amir Abdullah, former treasurer to Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar; and Nasiruddin Haqqani, an emissary for the Haqqani Network.

The order also prohibits U.S. businesses and individuals from engaging in any transactions with them.

“Today’s designation of three senior leaders and financiers for the Taliban and its affiliated Haqqani Network builds upon Treasury’s long-standing efforts to deprive these extremists of the resources they need to execute their violent activities,” said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

All three were added to a U.N. sanctions list this week for their association with al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban.

Mr. Ishakzai, a childhood friend of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, lived in the presidential palace in Kabul when the Taliban was in power and closely guarded access to the one-eyed terrorist leader.

He also served as Mullah Omar’s principal finance officer and one of his key advisers.

According to U.S. officials, Mr. Ishakzai in December 2005 facilitated the movement of people and goods to Taliban training camps in Iran.

FULL STORY

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