Helping Taliban: US names 2 Pak-Afghan money traders

US Treasury said the two hawalas, or money exchange businesses have been used by the Taliban.

WASHINGTON: The United States named two Afghanistan-Pakistan money changers as helping the Taliban manage and move funds, setting sanctions against both that aim to hinder their business.

The US Treasury said the two hawalas, or money exchange businesses – the Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange (HKHS) and the Roshan Money Exchange – “have been used by the Taliban to facilitate money transfers in support of the Taliban’s narcotics trade and terrorist operations.”

Up through last year, HKHS services were “a preferred method for Taliban leadership to transfer money to Taliban commanders in Afghanistan,” the Treasury said.Roshan was used for money transfers by the Taliban.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2012.