(Image courtesy: US Department of State/Facebook)

NEW DELHI: Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil, the operational leader for Lashkar-i-Toiba in India between 1997 and 2001, has been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US Department of State .

A long-time member of the US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Dakhil was captured in Iraq by UK forces in 2004.

He was lodged in Iraq and Afghanistan under the custody of the US. In 2014, he was transferred to Pakistan. Following his release, Dakhil returned to work for the LeT.

Two years later, he was appointed as the divisional commander for the Jammu region. As per the latest report, Dakhil is a senior commander in LeT as of early 2018.

The new designation will impose sanctions on foreign persons who have committed or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.

Following the designation, Dakhil will not be able to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, all of his property and interests subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

Today’s action notifies the US public and the international community that Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the US financial system," the State Department said.

