US Offers Up to $18m for Information on Two ISIS-K Leaders

The United States has announced rewards of up to $18 million for information leading to the identification or capture of two senior leaders of the Islamic State Khorasan Province, commonly known as ISIS-K. The US Rewards for Justice programme said it is offering up to $8 million for information on Sanaullah Ghafari, also known as Shahab al-Muhajir, and up to $10 million for information on another senior ISIS-K commander, Obaidullah, who is also known as Salahuddin and Maulawi Rajab. Ghafari is described by the programme as a key ISIS-K leader responsible for approving the group’s operations across Afghanistan and arranging funding for its activities. An ISIS communiqué announcing his appointment reportedly described Ghafari as an experienced military leader and one of the group’s “urban lions” in Kabul. He was said to have been involved in guerrilla operations as well as the planning of suicide and complex attacks. The US programme said Obaidullah is also involved in planning ISIS-K attacks and operations, commanding groups responsible for terrorist attacks and managing the group’s finances. According to Rewards for Justice, Obaidullah operates through the al-Siddiq Office, an ISIS regional directorate responsible for overseeing the group’s activities across Asia and providing financial support to its branches and networks. The programme also identified Obaidullah as a close associate of Ghafari, highlighting the links between the two senior figures within ISIS-K’s leadership structure. The US has designated ISIS-K as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and considers the group a major terrorist threat in the region. The combined $18 million reward underscores Washington’s continued efforts to disrupt ISIS-K’s leadership, financing and operational networks in Afghanistan and beyond.