The United States today singled out for sanctions three Pakistan-based men it called "terrorist facilitators" for their support for the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
Two of the men, identified as Pakistan natives Maulawi Adam Khan Achekzai and Aamir Ali Chaudhry, were said to be bomb-makers for the Taliban in Afghanistan and the movement's Pakistan offshoot Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan.
The third was Uzbekistan-born Qari Ayyub Bashir, who the Treasury said helped arrange logistics and finance for the IMU, served as a recruiter in Pakistan, and led attacks in Afghanistan.
The sanctions ban the men's access to US business and financial services, forbidding US individuals or companies from any transactions with them.
"Today's actions are intended to disrupt the activities of three individuals working to carry out violent attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan that threaten the lives of civilians and military forces," said David Cohen, the Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
"As these designations demonstrate, we will continue to work to dismantle the terrorist support networks operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, paying special attention to those involved in the manufacture of IEDs" or improvised explosive devices.
