US declares Haqqani Network's suicide ops chief as a 'Global Terrorist'

Any property within US jurisdiction held by Qari Zakir has been blocked, US citizens barred from dealing with him.

WASHINGTON: The US Secretary of State has designated Qari Zakir, reportedly the chief of suicide operations of the Haqqani Network, as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’.

A press release issued by the the US State Deparment said that Qari Zakir also held the post of operational commander in Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz, and Baghlan provinces of Afghanistan.

"Zakir is responsible for the Haqqani Network’s training program, which includes instruction in small arms, heavy weapons, and basic improvised explosive device (IED) construction."

According to the designation, any property subject to US jurisdiction held by Zakir has been blocked, and all US citizens are barred from engaging in any transactions with him.

The statement added that Zakir is a trusted associate and confidant of Sirajuddin Haqqani and has been accused of involvement in high profile attacks carried out by the Haqqani Network. He is also reportedly partly responsible for deciding whether to carry out large-scale attacks or not, as planned by local district-level commanders.

The statement also mentioned some of the attacks carried out by Zakir’s trained members, including attacks on US and Nato forces in Salerno and Chapman in 2010, as well as the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel and US Embassy in Kabul in 2011.

The Haqqani Network was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in September this year.