Canada officially declares Taliban and Haqqani network as terrorists

OTTAWA – More than a decade after going to war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Canadian government has officially declared them a terrorist group.

The minister of public safety added the Taliban to the so-called list of entities earlier this month.

The government also added the Haqqani network, an Islamist group believed to be behind attacks on international coalition forces still in Afghanistan.

The two additions bring to 46 the number of groups on the terrorist list, which was set up in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Any person or group on the list can have assets seized, while criminal penalties exist for assisting so-called listed entities with the aim of helping them carry out extremist activities.

The U.S. blacklisted the Haqqani network last fall, a move believed to be aimed at the Pakistani government, which is suspected of harbouring the group.