U.S. to blacklist Pakistan-based Haqqani network: NYT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Obama administration has decided to blacklist the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, accused of some high-profile attacks, on Friday, Sept 7, The New York Times reported.

Designation by the State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization would bring sanctions such as criminal penalties for anyone providing material support to the group and seizure of any assets in the United States. The administration was facing a congressional deadline this weekend to determine whether the network met the criteria for such designation.

According to The New York Times, senior officials who argued against blacklisting the group were concerned it could further damage relations with Pakistan and possibly jeopardize the fate of U.S. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl who is being held by the militants.

But State Department and military officials who argued for the designation believed it would help curtail the group's fund-raising activities in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and pressure Pakistan to act against the militants, the paper said.

"This shows that we are using everything we can to put the squeeze on these guys," one administration official involved in the process told the New York Times on condition of anonymity.

According to the newspaper, administration officials late Thursday said the government was going ahead with the designation.