The US is believed to be planning to send the names of at least four Pakistanis, including former ISI chief Hamid Gul, and Pakistan-based groups to the UN Security Council
ISLAMABAD: The US is believed to be planning to send the names of at least four Pakistanis, including former ISI chief Hamid Gul, and Pakistan-based groups to the UN Security Council for imposing sanctions against them for alleged links to terrorist activities.
US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood told a briefing in Washington on Friday that details of the list of names to be submitted to the Security Council would be revealed when the document is sent to the UN.
Sources privy to the development said that the names of Lt Gen Gul, who served as chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence during 1987-89, Lt Gen Javed Nasir, who was ISI chief during 1992-93, Maj Gen Zahirul Islam Abbasi and a former army chief were believed to be on the list.
Asked to confirm if the US had already sent the names of some Pakistani individuals, including several retired ISI officials, to the Security Council for addition to the UN terrorist sanctions list, State Department spokesman Wood said: "I'm not going to comment on names that we may or may not submit to the UN.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for me to do (so) at this point."
There has been no official word from the Pakistan government on this issue.
Recent media reports in Pakistan have suggested that Gul and at least three other former officials of the powerful spy agency could be put on the list of terrorist sanctions.
Gul played a key role in assisting mujahideen groups that fought against Soviet forces which had occupied Afghanistan and in instigating the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. He continues to be a vocal supporter of jehadi groups.
Nasir played a key role in uniting Afghan factions after the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan and in installing the first mujahideen government in Kabul. He was reportedly prematurely retired from service due to pressure from the US.
Abbasi served in the ISI. He was the military attach in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi between 1987 and 1988, when he was arrested for alleged involvement in espionage and expelled from India.
Once the name of an individual or a group is added to the terrorist sanctions list, all UN members are required to freeze the funds and other financial assets of designated individuals and entities.
The News daily reported on Sunday that it had accessed a "secret US document" which linked Gul to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The document said Gul provided "financial support and encouragement to the groups". It also said he had provided guidance to the Taliban in both Afghanistan and Pakistan on operational activities.
Gul "laughed off" the charges against him and described them as "hilarious", the newspaper reported.
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