Countering terrorism: US slaps sanctions on hawala company

Treasury dept claims Rahat Ltd’s Quetta branch being used by Taliban to fund terror activities.

WASHINGTON:

The US Treasury Department has announced sanctions against a hawala company and two individuals associated with it.

In a press release, the Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions against Rahat Ltd, a hawala company with 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 had 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 engaging in transactions with the individuals.

Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Under Secretary David S Cohen said that these sanctions are 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 company.

“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.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2012.