US imposes sanctions on 3 Pakistan-based men
Three men are suspected of backing terrorist organisations
WASHINGTION:
The United States on Wednesday froze the assets of three Pakistan-based individuals suspected of aiding terrorist organisations in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, including one linked to a abortive attack in New York.
In a statement, the Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions on Maulawi Adam Khan Achekzai, Aamir Ali Chaudhry and Qari Ayyub Bashir for providing material, logistical or financial support to the Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
The department said Ali Chaudhry, described as an electronics and explosives expert, advised “a TTP facilitator on fertiliser selection for the bomb used in the failed May 2010 attack in New York’s Times Square.”
The statement said he is also responsible for the TTP’s electronics needs for producing landmines and IEDs.
“Chaudhry has also been involved in attack planning for TTP. As of mid-2010, Chaudhry was involved in a TTP plan to conduct a rocket attack against the Pakistani parliament building and was leading the outfit’s efforts to develop a chemical poison. In early 2010, he was working on a TTP plot to detonate explosives on an aircraft and had been working on a plan to use an airliner in an attack. In addition, Chaudhry volunteered to conduct a suicide operation in support of TTP during this period,” said the statement. He is also believed to have worked last year on a media production centre for the TTP.
The Treasury Department said Achekzai is an IED manufacturer and facilitator for the Taliban. “As of late 2010, Achekzai was a Taliban military commander who was responsible for the production of IEDs and suicide vests,” said the statement.
Bashir, meanwhile, is described as IMU’s financial head and part of the organisation’s leadership council. The statement said that he has coordinated financial and logistic support for the IMU’s operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2012.
The United States on Wednesday froze the assets of three Pakistan-based individuals suspected of aiding terrorist organisations in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, including one linked to a abortive attack in New York.
In a statement, the Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions on Maulawi Adam Khan Achekzai, Aamir Ali Chaudhry and Qari Ayyub Bashir for providing material, logistical or financial support to the Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
The department said Ali Chaudhry, described as an electronics and explosives expert, advised “a TTP facilitator on fertiliser selection for the bomb used in the failed May 2010 attack in New York’s Times Square.”
The statement said he is also responsible for the TTP’s electronics needs for producing landmines and IEDs.
“Chaudhry has also been involved in attack planning for TTP. As of mid-2010, Chaudhry was involved in a TTP plan to conduct a rocket attack against the Pakistani parliament building and was leading the outfit’s efforts to develop a chemical poison. In early 2010, he was working on a TTP plot to detonate explosives on an aircraft and had been working on a plan to use an airliner in an attack. In addition, Chaudhry volunteered to conduct a suicide operation in support of TTP during this period,” said the statement. He is also believed to have worked last year on a media production centre for the TTP.
The Treasury Department said Achekzai is an IED manufacturer and facilitator for the Taliban. “As of late 2010, Achekzai was a Taliban military commander who was responsible for the production of IEDs and suicide vests,” said the statement.
Bashir, meanwhile, is described as IMU’s financial head and part of the organisation’s leadership council. The statement said that he has coordinated financial and logistic support for the IMU’s operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2012.