The US State Department on Monday blacklisted and imposed sanctions on three leaders of the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (Daesh) also known as ISIS-K, and another person it accused of acting as a financial facilitator for the group.

The State Department in a statement said the decision is taken to ensure Afghanistan cannot again become a platform for international terrorism.

According to the statement, three key members of Daesh have been blacklisted as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”

The current emir of Daesh is also included among those blacklisted, the statement reads.

“Sanaullah Ghafari, also known as Shahab al-Muhajir, is ISIS-K’s current overall emir.  He was appointed by the ISIS core to lead ISIS-K in June 2020.  Ghafari is responsible for approving all ISIS-K operations throughout Afghanistan and arranging funding to conduct operations,” the statement reads.

Daesh spokesperson Sultan Aziz Azam is also blacklisted who, according to the statement, has been acting as Daesh’s spokesperson since the group's emergence in Afghanistan.

Maulawi Rajab, the leader of Daesh in Kabul province, has also been blacklisted. “Rajab plans ISIS-K’s attacks and operations and commands ISIS-K groups conducting attacks in Kabul,” the statement reads.

In addition to the key members, the US Department of Treasury has sanctioned Ismatullah Khalozai for providing financial support to Daesh. According to the statement, Khalozai has been an international financial facilitator for the group.

“Khalozai operated a Turkey-based hawala business to transfer funds to finance ISIS-K operations.  He also operated a United Arab Emirates-based financing scheme, which involved sending luxury items to international destinations for resale, in an effort to generate funds for ISIS-K,” the statement reads.