In accordance with paragraph 20 of resolution 2160 (2014), the 1988 Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the 1988 Sanctions List.
Abdul Rauf Zakir was listed on 5 November 2012 pursuant to paragraph 3 of resolution 1988 (2011) for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of” and “otherwise supporting acts or activities of” those designated and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan.
Abdul Rauf Zakir is the chief of suicide operations for the Haqqani Network (TAe.012) and the commander in charge of all operations in Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan provinces, Afghanistan. Zakir approached the Haqqani Network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani (TAi.144) in approximately 2008, requesting financial assistance in exchange for expanding Haqqani Network influence and operations into northern Afghanistan, and has become a trusted associate and confidant of Sirajuddin.
As the chief of suicide operations, Zakir is responsible for training recruits. Under his programme, recruits are trained in basic small arms, heavy weapons, and basic improvised explosive device (IED) construction.
Zakir has been involved in many of the Haqqani Network's high-profile suicide attacks and is partially responsible for making some of the final determinations on whether or not to proceed with large-scale attacks planned by local, district-level commanders. Attacks using personnel selected from Zakir's training programme include the June 2011 attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which killed 11 civilians and two Afghan policemen, and the September 2011 attack on the United States Embassy in Kabul, which killed 16 Afghans, including at least six children.