WASHINGTON, March 3: The United States has expanded its sanctions’ list to include the manufacturers of improvised explosive devices as well, the Treasury Department announced on Saturday.

The first person placed on this list is Abdul Samad Achekzai. The Department of Treasury described Samad, a 42-year-old Afghan national, as a key official in the Taliban’s IED supply network. In mid-2010, the Taliban tasked him with IED component procurement and storage, detonator construction and IED training in support of their fighters in parts of  Afghanistan.—Correspondent