KARACHI: Pakistan has imposed financial sanctions on the Afghan Taliban and leaders of the Haqqani network, in a move which experts see as an attempt to avoid the country’s blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which monitors money laundering and tracks activities of terrorist groups.
According to Pakistani officials, however, the sanction order issued on Aug. 18 and made public on Friday evening is not a new development, as it is in line with much earlier decisions. It lists the names of Taliban chief peace negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, his deputy Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of the Haqqani network Sirajuddin Haqqani and other members of the Haqqani family.
“The SRO (statutory notification) issued by Pakistan on Aug. 18, 2020 only consolidates and documents the previously announced SROs as a procedural measure and does not reflect any change in the sanctions list or sanction measures,” Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri told Arab News on Saturday.
The order published by the Foreign Office says the decision was in line with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee, which direct member countries “to apply travel restrictions, arms embargo and to freeze the funds and other financial resources of certain individuals and entities.”
“The Taliban Sanctions Committee has not announced any changes in its sanctions list recently,” Chaudhri added, suggesting that the government’s move was only in line with previous decisions and not a new development.
Some Taliban leaders, including those from the Haqqani network, are believed to own property in Pakistan. The Foreign Office’s list also includes the name the slain Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor whose assets in Karachi were seized by court order in May this year. While Taliban deny their chief had any property in Pakistan, a report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed had been doing real estate business in the Pakistani metropolis.
According to Rahimullah Yousufzai, a Peshawar-based journalist and security expert, FIA’s report has made quite a case and prompted the government to issue the asset freezing order to avoid being blacklisted by the FATF after it put Pakistan on its grey list last year.
“The announcement is part of many measures that Pakistan has been taking to avoid being blacklisted by the global financial task force, which has demanded of it to take measures to prohibit the monetary activities by groups and individuals proscribed by the UN,” Yousufzai, told Arab News.
He added that it was a “tough call” as the peace process in Afghanistan has entered an important stage, following a US-Taliban agreement in February that paved the way for imminent negotiations between the militants and the Kabul government, the intra-Afghan talks aimed at deciding the future political set-up of the war-torn country.
“It’s a tough decision,” Yousafzai said, “Any move annoying Taliban may be detrimental to the ongoing peace talks.”
Pakistan freezes assets of Taliban leaders to avoid global finance blacklist
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Pakistan freezes assets of Taliban leaders to avoid global finance blacklist
- Sanctions seen as an attempt to avoid blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which put Pakistan on its grey list last year
- The sanction list includes the name of Taliban chief peace negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar
Karachi port sees rise in transshipment activity as Middle East tensions reshape shipping routes
- Two vessels dock simultaneously at Karachi terminals as regional cargo redistribution grows
- New feeder service has been launched to link Karachi with UAE hubs Fujairah and Khor Fakkan
KARACHI: Karachi Port is seeing increased transshipment activity and new feeder links to Gulf logistics hubs as shipping lines adjust regional routes amid tensions linked to the war involving Iran, port authorities said on Thursday.
Two vessels carrying transshipment cargo docked simultaneously at the port, according to a statement, highlighting its growing role in redistributing containers across Middle Eastern shipping routes.
The development comes as the conflict in the Middle East raises concerns about disruptions to critical energy and trade corridors.
The war has already pushed up oil and gas prices and heightened risks for shipping across Gulf waters, prompting logistics companies to reassess routes and rely more heavily on regional hubs outside potential conflict zones.
“The simultaneous handling of transshipment containers at Karachi Port highlights the port’s strong operational capacity, efficient port infrastructure, and strategic geographic advantage in supporting regional maritime logistics, container shipping operations, and uninterrupted international trade during ongoing disruptions in global shipping routes,” the official statement said.
“As transshipment cargo volumes continue to increase, Karachi Port is steadily strengthening its reputation as a key maritime logistics hub in South Asia and the Middle East regions, further reinforcing Pakistan’s role in international shipping and maritime connectivity,” it added.
FEEDER SERVICE
Separately, Karachi Gateway Terminal (Private) Limited (KGTL) said a dedicated feeder service linking Karachi with the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan has begun operations, strengthening connectivity between Pakistan and key Gulf transshipment hubs.
The inaugural voyage of the service arrived at the terminal on the evening of March 11, marking the start of regular operations aimed at maintaining reliable links between Pakistani exporters and global shipping networks.
“The commencement of this feeder service reflects KGTL’s continued commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s maritime connectivity and supporting the country’s trading community,” Khurram Aziz Khan, KGTL chief executive officer, said in a statement.
“By linking Karachi directly with major UAE transshipment hubs, this service provides importers and exporters with reliable access to global shipping networks while reinforcing the role of Karachi Gateway Terminal as a key gateway for international trade,” he added.
Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust Rear Admiral (r) Shahid Ahmed said stronger links with regional hubs would help facilitate smoother cargo movement.
“The introduction of this feeder service further enhances Karachi Port’s connectivity with key regional hubs and supports Pakistan’s growing trade requirements,” he said.
“Strengthening maritime links with the UAE will help facilitate smoother cargo movement while providing greater flexibility for the country’s trading community.”
