Taliban leader: US puts Qari Hussain on terrorism blacklist

Qari Hussain is seen as particularly notorious for his work training and organizing the TTP's suicide bombers.

WASHINGTON:

The US on Thursday placed Pakistani Taliban leader, Qari Hussain, on a terrorism blacklist.

“This action will help stem the flow of finances to Hussain by blocking all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Hussain has an interest and prohibiting all transactions by US persons with Hussain,” the State Department said in a statement.

The US government said that the group helped by Hussain, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is “notorious for recruiting and training men of all ages as suicide bombers.”

“Hussain has gained particular notoriety for his heavy recruitment of children,” the State Department said.

After recruitment and training, Qari Hussain is said to also organise the TTP’s suicide attacks.

US officials said Hussain is believed to have trained the Jordanian militant Humam Muhammad Abu Mulal al-Balawi, an alleged double-agent whose suicide mission on December 30, 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan, killed seven US intelligence agents.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2011.