US Offers $18 Million for Information on IS-K Leaders

DID Press: US Department of State has announced rewards totaling up to $18 million for information leading to the identification or location of two senior leaders of the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) branch under its Rewards for Justice program.

The U.S. government is offering up to $8 million for information on Sanaullah Ghafari, also known as Shahab al-Muhajir, the leader of IS-K. Washington alleges that Ghafari is responsible for approving the group’s operations and overseeing its financial resources.

A separate reward of up to $10 million has been announced for information on Obaidullah, another senior IS-K figure. The U.S. State Department says he oversees the group’s financial activities, operational planning and leadership of IS-K attack cells.

Analysts say such measures may have a significant publicity component and argue that large financial rewards alone are unlikely to eliminate terrorist networks without a broader security and political strategy.

They point to previous experience, saying that reward programs, in the absence of comprehensive measures to address the underlying security and political environment, cannot by themselves prevent the regeneration of militant networks, leaving regional security concerns unresolved.