Terror link: US hits Haqqani man with sanctions

State Department identifies Haqqani commander Mali Khan as a specially designated global terrorist.

The United States is adding a top commander of the Pakistan-based Haqqani network to one its main terrorism blacklists, according to The Associated Press.

The move by the State Department on Tuesday identifies Haqqani commander Mali Khan as a specially designated global terrorist and freezes any assets or property he may have in US jurisdictions. More importantly, it bars Americans from providing Khan with any material support.

The department said Khan commanded hundreds of fighters who have committed numerous high-profile terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and that one of his deputies supported suicide bombers that hit Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel in June, killing 12 people. Khan was captured in September but the department said his blacklisting strengthens US abilities to target the Haqqani network.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.