ISIS South Asia branch on UN radar, sanctions imposed
United Nation : The United Nations has imposed sanctions on ISIS South Asia Branch for its links with al-Qaeda and involvement in several deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan that killed over 150 people.
The United Nations Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee on Tuesday sanctioned Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan (ISIL-K), which is also known as 'ISIS' South Asia Branch, ISIL Khorasan, Islamic State's 'Khorasan Province' and 'South Asian Chapter of ISIL'.
The action comes two weeks after the UN council designated Pakistan's Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as 'global terrorist'. Ending the much awaited wait for an action against the efforts of India and its allies including the US, UK and France.
With the tag awarded, Azhar's assets were freezed and a travel ban was imposed on him.
The Sanctions Committee said in a statement that ISIS-K was formed on January 10, 2015 by a former Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander and was established by former Taliban faction commanders "who swore an oath of allegiance" to ISIS and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
ISIS K has claimed responsibility of several attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.