ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has slapped sanctions on Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), in a move welcomed by Pakistan on Friday, which has already banned the group in November 2016.
The Foreign Office (FO), in a press release, praised the inclusion of the JuA in the UNSC sanctions list, saying, “Pakistan welcomes the listing of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar by the UN Security Council.” “The Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee approved the addition of JuA in the list of entities and individuals subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. Pakistan had proposed this listing,” the FO said. The FO statement added that the JuA operates from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and joins the likes of the militant Islamic State group and Al Qaeda who are also on the sanctions list, alongside other groups which are breakaway factions of the terror groups. The government had called for an international ban on the organisation after which the 1627 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council designated the outfit. “Pakistan had proposed this listing,” the Foreign Ministry said. The JuA first came to prominence when it claimed responsibility for the 2014 Wagah attack targeting security forces. At least 61 people were killed in the attack and over 100 others were injured. The terror group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Pakistan in recent times, particularly those targeting military and law enforcement personnel, government buildings, politicians, minority groups and lawyers. In August 2016, the US State Department designated JuA as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
Published in Daily Times, July 8th , 2017.
