US hits alleged Haqqani commander with sanctions

The US Treasury hit a "key" commander in the powerful Haqqani network with sanctions Thursday, raising pressure on Pakistan to do more against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked group. The Treasury said Abdul Aziz Abbasin, an Afghan native, was appointed by the Haqqani network as "the Taliban shadow governor" in Orgun district of Afghanistan. There he is said to command a group of Taliban fighters and has helped run a militant training camp. Four other figures with links to Taliban and Al-Qaeda activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan were named in the sanctions, which aim at putting pressure on financial links to the groups. Treasury listed Afghanistan natives Hajji Faizullah Khan Noorzai and Hajji Malik Noorzai as Taliban financiers who held the militant group invest money in various businesses. It also named Pakistan national Abdur Rehman, who operates a religious school in Karachi, as aiding the Taliban and Al-Qaeda logistically and financially. The fifth person named was Fazal Rahim, called a financial facilitator for Al-Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. It said Rahim had helped the IMU send foreign fighters to Pakistan for training. "These financiers and facilitators provide the fuel for the Taliban, Haqqani Network and Al-Qaeda to realize their violent aspirations," Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence David Cohen said in a statement.