WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on an individual it accused of acting as a financial facilitator for the militant Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch, in a move that follows a series of attacks in Kabul claimed by the militant group.

The US Treasury Department said it blacklisted Ismatullah Khalozai, accusing him of operating a Turkey-based informal money-moving network, known as a hawala, to transfer funds to finance the IS.

The State Department on Monday also designated three men as Specially Designated Global Terrorists for their roles as leaders of the Afghan affiliate of IS, according to the Treasury.

“Today’s designation underscores the United States’ determination to prevent ISIS-K and its members from exploiting the international financial system to support terrorist acts in Afghanistan and beyond,” said Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, using a common name for Islamic State-Khorasan Province.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2021