The Reserve Bank of India, through Notification RBI/2026-27/252 dated September 07, 2026, has informed regulated entities about an amendment to one entry in the United Nations Security Council’s 1988 (2011) Taliban Sanctions List pursuant to Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The notification is issued under Chapter IX of the RBI Know Your Customer Directions, 2025 concerning requirements and obligations under international agreements and communications from international agencies.
The Ministry of External Affairs informed the RBI about UNSC press release SC/16443 dated August 27, 2026. The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) enacted amendments to its Taliban Sanctions List concerning individuals and entities associated with the Taliban. The amended entry relates to Abdul Salam Hanafi Ali Mardan Qul (TAi.027).
The amended entry identifies Abdul Salam Hanafi as a Taliban member responsible for Jawzjan Province in Northern Afghanistan until 2008 and records other particulars including his alternative names, dates and places of birth, nationality, passport details, address, listing history and other information.
The RBI advises regulated entities to take appropriate action under Chapter IX of the Directions and strictly follow the procedure prescribed in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021, as amended on April 22, 2024. It also refers to updated UNSC lists and the applicable delisting procedure. Banks are required to forward delisting requests received by them electronically to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs, for consideration. Regulated entities are directed to take note of the UNSC communication and ensure meticulous compliance.
Reserve Bank of India
Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1988 (2011) Taliban Sanctions List: Amendment of 01 Entry:
RBI/2026-27/252
DOR.AML.REC.218/14.06.001/2026-27 | Dated: September 07, 2026
The Chairpersons/ CEOs of the Commercial Banks,
Small Finance Banks, Payment Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks,
Rural Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks,
Non-Banking Financial Companies, Asset Reconstruction Companies,
All India Financial Institutions
Madam/Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1988 (2011) Taliban Sanctions List: Amendment of 01 Entry:
Please refer to Chapter IX on “Requirements/obligations under International Agreements – Communications from International Agencies” of the Reserve Bank of India – Know Your Customer, Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (amended as on December 29, 2025) (“Directions”), as applicable, as per which, regulated entity shall ensure that in terms of section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 and amendments thereto, it does not have any account in the name of individuals / entities appearing in the lists of individuals and entities, suspected of having terrorist links, which are approved by and periodically circulated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
2. In this connection, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India has informed about the UNSC press release SC/16443 dated August 27, 2026 wherein the Security Council Committee established and maintained pursuant to Security Council resolution 1988 (2011) has enacted amendments to the ‘Taliban Sanctions List’, which includes names of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban.
2.1 The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and/or underline in the entries below on its 1988 List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2816 (2026), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
A. Individuals
TAi.027 Name: 1: ABDUL SALAM 2: HANAFI 3: ALI MARDAN 4: QUL Name (original script): عبدالسلام حنفی علی مردان قل Title: a) Mullah b) Maulavi Designation: Deputy Minister of Education under the Taliban regime (1996-2001) DOB: a) Approximately 1968 b) 1 Jan. 1969 POB: a) Darzab District, Faryab Province, Afghanistan b) Qush Tepa District, Jawzjan Province, Afghanistan Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abdussalam Hanifi b) Hanafi Saheb c) ABDUL SALAM HANAFI (name in original script: عبدالسلام حنفي) Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Afghanistan Passport no: a) Afghanistan number D00009723 b) Afghanistan number D0010098, issued on 4 Apr. 2023, issued in Kabul, Afghanistan, expires 4 Apr. 2028 (Name in Latin script, Abdul Salam Hanafi, name in original script; عبدالسلام حنفي) c) P03078281, issued on 9 Feb. 2020, issued in Dubai, expires 9 Feb. 2030 National identification no: na Address: Kabul, Afghanistan Listed on: 23 Feb. 2001 ( amended on 3 Sep. 2003, 18 Jul. 2007, 21 Sep. 2007, 27 Sep. 2007, 1 Feb. 2008, 29 Nov. 2011, 10 Mar. 2026, 28 Apr. 2026, 27 Aug. 2026) Review concluded on: 1 Jun. 2010 Other information: Taliban member responsible for Jawzjan Province in Northern Afghanistan until 2008. Involved in drug trafficking. Height 178 cm. Photo available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice: [https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals#2006-25909](https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals#2006-25909)
3. Press release dated August 27, 2026 regarding the above can be found at [https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16443.doc.htm](https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16443.doc.htm)
4. In view of the above, regulated entities are advised to take appropriate action in terms of Chapter IX of the aforementioned Directions and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021 (amended on April 22, 2024) annexed to the directions.
5. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban are available at:
[www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list](http://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list) [https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials](https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials)
6. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for de-listing received by any bank is to be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA for consideration. Individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to either directly to the Focal Point for Delisting established pursuant to resolution 1730 (2006) or through his/her State of residence or nationality. More details are available at the following URL: [https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/1988/materials/procedures_delisting](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/1988/materials/procedures_delisting)
7. Regulated entities are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager
