The United States has actually raised bounties on 3 senior Taliban figures, consisting of the interior minister who likewise heads an effective network blamed for bloody attacks versus Afghanistan’s previous Western-backed federal government, authorities in Kabul stated Sunday.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, who acknowledged preparing a January 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which eliminated 6 individuals, consisting of United States resident Thor David Hesla, no longer appears on the State Department’s Benefits for Justice site. The FBI site on Sunday still included a desired poster for him.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani stated the United States federal government had actually withdrawed the bounties put on Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani.
“These 3 people are 2 bros and one paternal cousin,” Qani informed the Associated Press.
The Haqqani network became among the most dangerous arms of the Taliban after the US-led 2001 intrusion of Afghanistan.
The group utilized roadside bombs, suicide battles and other attacks, consisting of on the Indian and United States embassies, the Afghan presidency, and other significant targets. They likewise have actually been connected to extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activity.
A Foreign Ministry authorities, Zakir Jalaly, stated the Taliban’s release of United States detainee George Glezmann on Friday and the elimination of bounties revealed both sides were “moving beyond the results of the wartime stage and taking useful actions to lead the way for development” in bilateral relations.
“The current advancements in Afghanistan-US relations are a fine example of the practical and sensible engagement in between the 2 federal governments,” stated Jalaly.
Another authorities, Shafi Azam, hailed the advancement as the start of normalization in 2025, mentioning the Taliban’s statement it was in control of Afghanistan’s embassy in Norway.
Because the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, China has actually been the most popular nation to accept among their diplomats. Other nations have actually accepted de facto Taliban agents, like Qatar, which has actually been a crucial conciliator in between the United States and the Taliban. United States envoys have actually likewise satisfied the Taliban.
The Taliban’s guideline, particularly prohibits impacting females and ladies, has actually activated prevalent condemnation and deepened their global seclusion.
Haqqani has actually formerly spoken up versus the Taliban’s decision-making procedure, authoritarianism, and alienation of the Afghan population.
His rehab on the global phase remains in contrast to the status of the reclusive Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who might deal with arrest by the International Lawbreaker Court for his persecution of females.