On Thursday, the US State Department blacklisted the Pakistani based military group, Haqqani Network as a terrorist group. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton signed a report to congress stating the militant group fulfilled all criteria that would categorize it as a terrorist group.
The Haqqani network has long been associated with terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and the Taliban. A number of major attacks, including the 2008 attacks on the US and Indian Embassy in Afghanistan, have been attributed to the group, therefore it comes as no surprise that group finally finds itself in the designated terrorist list. The process of deliberation was a long one, nearly two years before a consensus was reached to place the group on the terrorist list. The categorization will take effect in 10 days, this means that an embargo will be placed on the group, US individuals and companies will be banned from having any business transactions with the group and all their (the groups) assets in the US will be frozen.
An unnamed administration official told the New York Times, "the designation is a very strong signal of our resolve to combat the Haqqanis."
According to reports, US special envoy, Marc Grossman, will make the formal announcement to Pakistani officials on Friday.
Clinton is currently attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Vladivostok, Russia. She will submit her report to congress by this weeken
"Based on that assessment [the report], she will notify Congress that she intends to designate the Haqqani network as an FTO (foreign terrorist organisation) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity," said a state official to BBC News.
