U.S. labels Pakistani group's chief of suicide operations a terrorist

The chief of suicide operations for a Pakistan-based terror organization has been officially listed as a "terrorist" by the United States, coinciding with a similar action by the United Nations on Monday.

Qari Zakir, chief of suicide operations for the Haqqani Network, was labeled a specially designated global terrorist under the authority of an executive order, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced in a written statement. The designation blocks Zakir from all of his property that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits any U.S. nationals from engaging in any transactions on behalf, or for the benefit, of Zakir.

In addition to the designation by the United States, Zakir and the Haqqani Network were listed by the United Nations sanctions committee in actions that require all U.N. member states to implement a freeze of assets, a travel ban and an arms embargo against both entities.

The United States designated the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization in September. While the leadership of the group is based in northwestern Pakistan, the group is responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

In addition to his role as the head of suicide operations for the Haqqani network, Zakir, also known as Abdul Rauf, is the operational commander for the group in the Afghan provinces of Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan.

In the announcement, the State Department said Zakir had a hand in many high-profile attacks carried out by his organization, including the September 2011 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Sixteen Afghans, including six children, were killed in that attack.