US outlaws TTP deputy head

'Will make relentless efforts to ensure terrorists do not use Afghanistan as a platform for international terrorism'

WASHINGTON:

The United States has declared Mufti Hazrat Deroji, also known as Qari Amjad, the number-two in the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as terrorist along with the senior leadership of the Al-Qa’eda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

The State Department has said in a statement on Friday that the United States was committed to using its full set of counterterrorism tools to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.

“Yesterday, the Department of State designated four AQIS and TTP leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, for their leadership roles in their respective groups,” it said.

The four jihadists are: Osama Mehmood, the Emir of AQIS; Atif Yahya Ghouri, deputy Emir of AQIS; Muhammad Maruf, responsible for AQIS’ recruiting branch and Qari Amjad, deputy Emir of TTP, the State Department said.

As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated that were subject to US jurisdiction were blocked, and all US persons were prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them,” it added.

US officials say TTP number-two Mufti Hazrat Deroji, also known as Qari Amjad, has overseen operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and that his 15-year campaign of violence has stepped up since the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the designations were “part of our relentless efforts to ensure that terrorists do not use Afghanistan as a platform” for international terrorism.

“We will continue to use all relevant tools to uphold our commitment to see to it that international terrorists are not able to operate with impunity in Afghanistan,” Blinken added.

The State Department and Treasury Department listed the four as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, making it a crime in the United States to engage in transactions with them and blocking any assets they have in the country.