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Canada has become the first NATO country to officially designate the Taliban as a terrorist organization, the government announced on Wednesday as it also sanctioned the Haqqani network.

The armed Islamist groups are responsible for countless attacks in Afghanistan that have slowed the country’s transition out of lawlessness following years of civil war, brutal Taliban rule and al-Qaeda intrusion.

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The listing makes it illegal to knowingly participate in, or contribute to the Taliban or Haqqani network, which is based in Pakistan and is allied with the Taliban. Both reject democracy and are fighting to impose their harsh version of Islamic law on Afghans.

“In 2011, the Taliban was responsible for the majority of civilian casualties in Afghanistan and have been known to carry out a number of attacks on girls’ schools in particular,” the listing reads, adding the Haqqani network is “one of the most powerful and violent organizations in the region.”