The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group’s leader Noor Wali Mehsud has been designated as a global terrorist by the UN for participating in the financing, planning and perpetrating acts on behalf of and in support of entities associated with al-Qaida.
The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee added Noor Wali Mehsud, 42, to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List on Thursday, subjecting the terrorist to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
UNSC blacklists TTP Emir for terrorist activities
The Sanctions Committee said that Mehsud was listed for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of entities associated with al-Qaida.
In June 2018, Noor Wali Mehsud was named the leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, following the death of former TTP leader Maulana Fazlullah.
Read more: TTP leader, involved in APS attack of 2014, killed in Afghanistan
The TTP was blacklisted by the UN on July 29, 2011 for its association with al-Qaida.
Under Noor Wali’s leadership, TTP has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly terrorist attacks across Pakistan, including an attack targeting Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan in July 2019 and a bomb attack against Pakistani soldiers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in August 2019, the Sanctions Committee said.
TTP Chief Noor Wali Mehsud from Waziristan in his book "Inqelaab-e-Mehsud" has named the two suicide bombers of TTP who martyred Benazir Bhutto. He has also gaven details of more than 100 suicide bombers of TTP from Waziristan in this book.
This is from his book: https://t.co/QpK9jh7N93 pic.twitter.com/RNgJCUmuzj
— Shah 🏴☠️ (@WARW0UNDED) July 15, 2020
The group had claimed responsibility for an attempted bombing in Times Square on May 1, 2010, and in April 2010 it had launched a multi-pronged assault against the United States Consulate in Peshawar, killing at least six Pakistanis and wounding 20 others, the Committee added.
UNSC blacklists TTP Emir: US State department welcomes decision
The US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) said in a tweet that it welcomes the addition of Noor Wali Mehsud by the UN to the ISIL and Al Qaida sanctions list.
Welcome news that the @UN has added Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan leader Noor Wali Mehsud to its ISIL & AQ sanctions list. TTP is responsible for many deadly terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The United States domestically designated Noor Wali as a terrorist in September 2019.
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 16, 2020
Noor Wali, also known as Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, was named the leader of TTP in June 2018 following the death of former TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah. Under Noor Wali’s leadership, TTP has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly terrorist attacks across Pakistan, according to the US State Department.
Read more: Has TTP been completely wiped out from tribal areas?
Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan leader Mehsud has been added to the sanctions list of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
TTP is responsible for many deadly terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The United States domestically designated Noor Wali as a terrorist in September 2019, it said in the tweet.
What does blacklisting by UNSC entail?
Blacklisting by the Security Council entails that all states are required to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The blacklisting of Noor Wali Mehsud would mean that he is subjected to a travel ban, freezing of his assets along with an arms embargo.
When the UNSC Sanctions Committee freezes the assets of a targeted individual/entity, it is required that all United Nations member governments across the globe immediately freeze the funds, financial assets or any economic resources that come under direct or indirect ownership of the designated individual.
The travel ban against Mehsud implies that his entry or transit in any of the countries that are UN members will be not be allowed in accordance with the travel sanctions.
Read more: TTP is backed by enemies including India: Imran Khan
In adherence to the arms embargo that prevents Noor Wali Mehsud from acquiring arms and ammunition, all member countries are directed to block the channels that might directly or indirectly facilitate the sale of arms to the Al Qaeda leader. In addition to this, all member states are required to prevent the transfer of arms, ammunition, spare parts, and related paraphernalia to Hamza.
They are also required to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories by the designated individuals and prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military activities, to designated individuals and entities.
Non material support in the form of technical advice, assistance, logistic support, or training in relation to military activities to the designated terrorist by the citizens of UN member countries as well as via flag vessels or aircraft of these countries are also prohibited.
GVS News Desk with additional input by other sources