Guwahati: The Biden administration is dedicated to preventing terrorist organisations from using Afghanistan as a base for international terrorism, according to the United States, which has designated four terrorists from Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as global terrorists.
“The United States is committed to using its full set of counterterrorism tools to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, including al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as part of our relentless efforts to ensure that terrorists do not use Afghanistan as a platform for international terrorism,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“The Department of State designated four AQIS and TTP leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, for their leadership roles in their respective groups,” he added.
Osama Mehmood, the emir of AQIS, Atif Yahya Ghouri, the deputy emir of AQIS, and Muhammad Maruf, in charge of AQIS’ recruiting division, are all listed as designated terrorists. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province’s activities and militants are under the control of TTP deputy emir Qari Amjad, who has also been designated by the State Department.
Due to these actions, all designated individuals’ property and property interests that are subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and all US citizens are typically forbidden from conducting any business with them.
“Yesterday’s actions again demonstrate that we will continue to use all relevant tools to uphold our commitment to see to it that international terrorists are not able to operate with impunity in Afghanistan,” Blinken said.
The Afghan Taliban as part of the exit accord with the US vowed not to host terror groups, however, a UN Security Council report earlier this year said the movement has failed to fully cut ties with al-Qaeda and TTP.
Islamabad and the Taliban government have also had disagreements over Islamabad’s support of TTP members, whose primary objective is the overthrow of the Pakistani government.