US Freezes Assets of Pakistan-based Militant Leaders

The Obama administration has frozen the assets of three leaders of the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network militant group.

The State Department has already declared the Taliban-linked group a terrorist organization. The United States blames it for a number of attacks on Western interests in Afghanistan.

Wednesday's move also designates Yahya Haqqani, Saidullah Jan, and Muhammad Omar Zadran as terrorists. All their U.S. property and finances have been frozen and U.S. citizens are banned from doing any business with them.

Treasury officials say the Haqqani Network is a grave threat to U.S. civilians and troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Authorities have said they will take action to disrupt the group and undermine its finances.