UN Security Council Updates Sanctions List Targeting 22 Taliban Officials

The United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee has updated the list of Taliban administration officials subject to sanctions. According to the list published on March 9, 22 members and senior officials of the Taliban administration face travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes.

Among those included are Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister; Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Economic Chief; Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Administrative Chief; Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister; and Sirajuddin Haqqani, Interior Minister. Also sanctioned are Abdul Kabir, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation; Abdul Latif Mansour, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Mohammad Fazil Mazloom, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation; Din Mohammad Hanif, Minister of Economy, along with several other ministers and senior officials.

Nooruddin Turabi, Head of Disaster Management; Mohammad Isa Akhund, Minister of Public Works; Najibullah Haqqani, Minister of Urban Development; Noor Mohammad Saqib, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs; Abdul Haq Wasiq, Head of Intelligence; and Khairullah Khairkhwa, Governor of Maidan Wardak, are also among those sanctioned. Additionally, individuals such as Hamidullah Akhund, Aziz-ur-Rahman, Gul Agha Ishaqzai, Malik Noruzi, and Ahmad Zia Agha have been subjected to Security Council restrictions.

However, the list notably does not include Hibatullah Akhundzada, the elusive Taliban leader, with no explanation provided by the Security Council for his omission.

These sanctions are imposed under Security Council Resolution 1988, which targets individuals involved in violence, arms supply, recruitment, or activities threatening the peace and stability of Afghanistan. Those listed can only travel to UN member states with official Security Council authorization.

On February 12, the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Team for another year; the draft resolution was prepared by the United States. The continuation of these sanctions comes as the Taliban administration continues to face widespread international criticism over human rights restrictions and political isolation, casting uncertainty over the group’s future engagement with the international community.