The United States has placed a leading member of the Pakistani Taliban, Qari Hussain, on a terrorist blacklist.
The State Department identified Hussain as one of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) top lieutenants and a recruiter of suicide bombers of all ages, including children.
It says designating Hussain as a terrorist allows the U.S. to freeze any assets he may have in U.S. jurisdictions. The move also bars any U.S. citizen from having financial dealings with him.
The State Department says Hussain and the TTP have taken responsibility for suicide bombings across Pakistan that killed dozens of people. He is also believed to be responsible for training the Jordanian double-agent - Humam Muhammad Abu Mulal al-Balawi - whose suicide mission in December 2009 at a base in eastern Afghan province of Khost killed seven CIA agents.
Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, the State Department's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, said Hussain's sponsored operations have had a destabilizing effect on the region. He called Hussain's use of children to carry out suicide bombings is abhorrent.
