US Lifts Bounty On Taliban Leader Haqqani, Deal With Trump Administration May Have Been Struck: Sources To News18
Sirajuddin Haqqani was allegedly involved in planning significant attacks, and a major one was the 2008 strike on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed six people, including a US citizen
The United States has lifted a $10 million reward offer for information leading to the arrest of a major Taliban leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan interior ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.
Sources told CNN-News18 that this indicates a deal may have been struck between the Haqqanis and the Donald Trump administration.
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Earlier, the US government offered rewards for information on Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani.
The state department offered amounts of $10 million, $5 million, and $5 million, respectively, as part of the Rewards for Justice programme.
These rewards target key leaders of the Haqqani Network, which was declared a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US.
Sirajuddin Haqqani is the first deputy leader of Afghanistan and the acting interior minister in the post-2021 Taliban regime.
The Haqqanis were on the radar for involvement in attacks against the US and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Sources close to the Haqqanis told CNN-News18 that their page on the Rewards for Justice programme website had disappeared.
“Sirajuddin Haqqani’s role in the Afghan government is very important in shaping the country’s relationship with America," said a source. “This highlights the dynamics between US policy and the Taliban administration."
Siraj Haqqani was allegedly involved in planning significant attacks, and a major one was the 2008 strike on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed six people, including a US citizen.
“A possible reason for this (the US move) is that he (Haqqani) has facilitated the release of American citizens after a discussion with Zalmay Khalilzad (who was the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation from September 2018 to October 2021)," a source said.
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