US places sanctions on Quetta-based man, hawala company

Sanctions imposed on Rahat Ltd, a hawala company which has branches in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran

WASHINGTON: The US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it has placed sanctions against a Quetta-based individual and a hawala company with which he is associated.

In a press release, the Treasury department said it was imposing sanctions against Rahat Ltd, a hawala company which has branches in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, which has been accused of being used by the Taliban. Additionally, sanctions have also been imposed on Mohammed Qasim, Rahat Ltd.’s owner, and Musa Kalim, the manager of the company’s branch in Quetta.

The Treasury Department said that Rahat Ltd has been used extensively by the senior leadership of the Taliban to finance their activities.

“This includes facilitating millions of dollars of transactions to support the Taliban shadow governor for Helmand Province, United Nations Security Council 1988-Listed Naim Barich, who was also designated November 15, 2012 pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for his extensive narcotics production and distribution activities,” said the press release.

The sanctions mean that all property associated with Rahat Ltd, Mohammed Qasim and Musa Kalim have been blocked, and all US citizens are barred from being engaged in transactions with the individuals.

David S Cohen, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said that these sanctions is part of the US’ efforts to target and disrupt financial activity linked to the Taliban’s use of hawalas. “We will continue exposing these illicit networks and deprive the Taliban of their sources of funding no matter where they turn.”

The Treasury Department said that Rahat Ltd’s Quetta branch had been used by Taliban leader Naim Barich, among other Taliban leaders, to receive and transfer money. Barich is accused of receiving millions of dollars through the hawala company.

Mohammed Qasim, Rahat Ltd’s owner, has been accused of facilitating financial transfers for the Taliban, and helping transport weapons and ammunition for the Taliban.

“Musa Kalim owns and runs the Quetta, Pakistan branch of Rahat Ltd, also known as the New Chagai Trading Company and the Musa Kalim Hawala,” said the press release.