This document provides a summary of the official notification issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) regarding the list of individuals subject to sanctions under the United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) Regulation 2022 (Cap. 537CN).
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1. Document Overview
This document serves as an official update to the list of individuals and entities designated under the United Nations (UN) sanctions regime against the Taliban and associated individuals/groups. The nature of the document is a regulatory notice issued to financial institutions (FIs) and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in Hong Kong to ensure compliance with the United Nations Sanctions Ordinance (Cap. 537). Its purpose is to mandate the freezing of assets and the prevention of the provision of financial services to the listed individuals to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
2. Main Content
The document lists specific high-ranking former and current Taliban officials, members of the Taliban Supreme Council, and figures associated with the Haqqani Network.
- Core Content: The list provides detailed identifiers for each individual, including full names (Latin and original script), titles, designations (e.g., Ministers, Governors under the Taliban regime), dates of birth, places of birth, passport numbers, and tribal affiliations.
- New Policies/Requirements: The notice enforces strict adherence to the UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions list. Entities must verify if they hold any accounts or assets associated with these individuals and report any findings immediately.
- Risk Profiles: Many individuals are noted for their roles in drug trafficking, recruitment, manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and facilitating financial networks (Hawala).
3. Key Changes
- Updates to Records: Several entries include recent amendments dated 10 March 2026, 13 April 2026, and 28 April 2026, reflecting changes to passport information, addresses, or status (e.g., death reports or new aliases).
- New Information: Updated passport details for individuals such as Mohammad Hassan Akhund (TAi.002), Abdul Kabir Mohammad Jan (TAi.003), and Abdul Ghani Baradar (TAi.024) have been incorporated.
- Status Adjustments: Several individuals are noted as "Reportedly deceased" (e.g., Mullah Mohammed Omar TAi.004, Said Mohammed Haqqani TAi.006, etc.), but remain on the list as per UN sanctions protocols until formal removal by the Sanctions Committee.
4. Important Dates
- Publication Date: 29 April 2026, 3:00 p.m.
- Recent Amendment Dates: 10 March 2026, 13 April 2026, 15 April 2026, and 28 April 2026.
- Historical Reference Dates: The original listing dates range from 2000 to 2015, with ongoing periodic reviews (e.g., pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822).
5. Impact Scope
- Applicability: Mandatory for all Authorized Institutions (AIs), including licensed banks, restricted licence banks, and deposit-taking companies in Hong Kong.
- Impact Level: High. Compliance teams must perform real-time screening against the current list. Any match triggers an immediate freezing obligation under the United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) Regulation 2022.
- Financial Services: Any financial service provided to these individuals, or processing transactions involving them, is prohibited under Hong Kong law.
6. Compliance Requirements
- Screening: Financial institutions are required to perform ongoing screening of customer databases against this list.
- Reporting: If an institution identifies a "match" (a customer or counterparty on the list), they must:
- Immediately freeze the funds or assets of the identified person/entity.
- Refrain from making any funds or financial services available to the designated person.
- Report the match immediately to the HKMA and the relevant authorities (e.g., the Chief Executive of the HKSAR).
- Due Diligence: Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) is required for any client exhibiting high-risk factors related to the Afghanistan region or tribal affiliations mentioned in the list (e.g., Zadran, Nurzai, Popalzai).
7. Technical Details
- Terminology:
- Hawala: Informal value transfer systems, specifically mentioned in relation to "Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange" (TAe.010).
- Tazkira: Refers to the Afghan national identification card.
- UNSC Special Notice: The document directs users to the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice for biometric and visual data (photos).
- Data Points:
- Identifiers: DOBs, POBs, and passport numbers (e.g., Afghanistan Passport P04581926) are the primary metrics for identity resolution.
- Tribal Affiliations: Important risk indicators provided for all individuals (e.g., Baabar, Zadran, Ghilzai, Barakzai, Popalzai, Nurzai, Alokozai, Andar, Kakar).
- Physical Metrics: Height (e.g., 185 cm, 170 cm) and physical marks (e.g., "missing left eye," "missing left leg") are provided to assist in identifying individuals.
Summary of Appendices/Tables (Inherent in document text)
The document is structured as an itemized registry of individuals. Each entry is a structured data profile:
- Identifiers: Name, Title, Designation, DOB, POB.
- Financial/Travel Documents: Passport numbers and National ID numbers.
- Sanctions Status: "Listed on" dates and subsequent amendment dates.
- Biographical Risk: "Other Information" section provides critical context for AML risk assessment, including involvement in IED operations, drug trafficking, or leadership positions in the Taliban/Haqqani Network.