US sanctions ‘deadliest’ Pakistan Taliban leader

WASHINGTON - The US has imposed sanctions on “the deadliest” Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Qari Hussain to stem the flow of finances to the terrorist group behind many lethal suicide bombings throughout Pakistan.

Hussain has been designated by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton under Executive Order 13224 “which targets terrorists and their supporters”, the State Department announced Thursday.

“This action will help stem the flow of finances to Hussain by blocking all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Hussain has an interest and prohibiting all transactions by US persons with Hussain,” it said.

TTP has previously been designated under the same order and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

“Qari Hussain is one of TTP’s top lieutenants and also serves as the trainer and organizer of the group’s suicide bombers,” the State Department said.

“Training camps organized by Hussain are notorious for recruiting and training men of all ages as suicide bombers, and Hussain has gained particular notoriety for his heavy recruitment of children.

“Widely considered to be the deadliest of all TTP’s commanders, Hussain and the TTP have taken responsibility for many lethal suicide bombings throughout Pakistan,” it said

Such attacks have included a November 2009 car bomb in Peshawar, Pakistan; two attacks on Pakistani government offices in Lahore; a September 2010 attack on a rally in Quetta that killed at least 54 people; a second September 2010 attack on a Shia procession in Lahore, which killed 33; and a September 2010 car bomb in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, that killed at least 17 people, including four children.

Hussain, the department said, is also believed to have trained the Jordanian militant Humam Muhammad Abu Mulal al-Balawi - the double-agent whose suicide mission Dec 30, 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan, killed seven Americans.

“Today’s designation of Qari Hussain is in response to the wanton acts of violence he has perpetrated against the people of Pakistan and United States,” State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism Daniel Benjamin said.

“Hussain’s sponsored operations have had a destabilizing effect on the region and his use of children to carry out suicide bombings is abhorrent,” he said.

“This case illustrates our continued resolve to undermine TTP senior leaders’ planning and coordination capabilities.”

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)