WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Washington said it put more pressure on Pakistani terrorist networks by freezing the assets of a suspected commander of the Haqqani network.
The U.S. State Department announced it blocked assets of alleged Haqqani commander Mali Khan under an executive order targeting terrorists.
The State Department described the Haqqani network as a militant group with strong ties to the Taliban and which operates from the tribal areas of Pakistan.
"The Haqqani network has been at the forefront of insurgent activity in Afghanistan, responsible for many high-profile attacks," the State Department said in a statement.
In early October, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan announced Khan was captured in a raid with Afghan forces.
He was identified as a senior figure in the militant network and a close aide to Baitullah Mahsud, a top Taliban commander killed by a U.S. airstrike in August 2009.
U.S. allegations the Pakistani intelligence agency has ties to the Haqqani network, blamed for a series of attacks in Afghanistan, have hurt the relationship between the two allies.
"Mali Khan's recent detention marked a significant milestone in the disruption of the Haqqani network but does not absolve Mali Khan of his actions conducting terrorist acts for the Haqqani network," the State Department added.
