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EU Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Leaders

Brussels, [Date] - The European Union has imposed sanctions on six top Taliban leaders, aiming to crack down on the group’s activities.

Sanctioned Individuals

The following individuals have been added to the EU’s Consolidated Financial Sanctions List:

  • Abdul Manan Mohammad Ishak (Maulavi): First Secretary and Commercial Attaché at the Taliban Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Akhtar Mohammad Mansour Shah Mohammed (Mullah): Minister of Civil Aviation and Transportation under the Taliban regime.
  • Faiz (Maulavi): Head of the Information Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Taliban regime.
  • Shahabuddin Delawar (Maulavi): Deputy Head of the High Court under the Taliban regime.
  • Sayed Esmatullah Asem (Asmatullah Asem): Deputy Minister of Preventing Vice and Propagating Virtue and Secretary-General of the Afghan Red Crescent Society under the Taliban regime.
  • Ehsanullah Sarfida Hesamuddin Akhundzada (Maulavi): Deputy Minister of Security (Intelligence) under the Taliban regime.

Rationale Behind the Sanctions

The sanctions were imposed in accordance with a EU regulation dated 2017/404 (OJ L63), which aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. The individuals are believed to be responsible for various human rights abuses, including:

  • Torture
  • Enforced disappearance
  • Extrajudicial killings

They have also been involved in activities that pose a threat to international peace and security.

Consequences of the Sanctions

The sanctions prohibit these individuals from:

  • Entering the territory of any EU country
  • Freezing their assets within the EU
  • Prohibiting transactions with them

This move is seen as a significant step towards holding Taliban leaders accountable for their actions. The EU has been increasingly critical of the group’s activities in recent years, particularly its refusal to engage in peace talks and its continued human rights abuses.

Pressure on the Taliban

The sanctions are also seen as a way to pressure the Taliban to engage in meaningful dialogue with the international community and address concerns about its human rights record. The full list of sanctioned individuals can be found on the EU’s website.