UK amends sanctions entries for Pakistani Taliban and two men

LONDON, Oct. 16, 2026 — The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced amendments to three existing entries on the UK Sanctions List under the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda sanctions regime. The changes concern Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mounir El Motassadeq and Noor Wali Mehsud, all of whom remain subject to existing restrictions. The notice represents administrative variations to existing designations rather than new sanctions or removals.

The first amendment concerns Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, an armed militant organization operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The group, originally designated by the United Nations in July 2011, remains subject to an asset freeze and arms embargo. The updated entry identifies Noor Wali Mehsud as its leader, replacing the previous reference to Maulana Fazlullah, who was killed in 2018. The record also retains alternative names, including Tehreek-e-Taliban and TTP, to support identification and sanctions screening.

The second variation concerns Moroccan national Mounir El Motassadeq, who was convicted in Germany of being an accessory to murder and membership in a terrorist organization. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in January 2007, he was deported to Morocco in October 2018. His amended sanctions record updates identifying information, including his location and associated personal details. El Motassadeq has been designated under UN sanctions since September 2002 and remains subject to an asset freeze, arms embargo and travel ban.

The third amendment relates to Noor Wali Mehsud, the Pakistani national who succeeded Fazlullah as leader of TTP. Originally designated in July 2020, Mehsud remains subject to an asset freeze, arms embargo and travel ban. His updated record includes identifying information and an address in Lamman, Barmal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, previously recorded in November 2022.

The changes do not alter the underlying sanctions restrictions but require financial institutions and other screening organizations to ensure their records reflect the latest identifying information. Under UK financial sanctions legislation, funds and economic resources belonging to designated persons must remain frozen, and making assets available to them is prohibited unless an applicable exception or licence permits the activity.