Sirajuddin Haqqani
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Sirajuddin Haqqani (Pashto: سراج الدين حقاني, romanized: Sirāj al-Dīn Ḥaqqānī, Pashto pronunciation: [sɪrɑd͡ʒʊˈdin haqɑˈni]; aliases Khalifa and Siraj Haqqani; born 5 December 1979) is an Afghan warlord and Specially Designated Global Terrorist who is the first deputy leader of Afghanistan and the acting interior minister in the internationally unrecognized post-2021 Taliban regime. He has been a deputy leader of the Taliban since 2015, and was additionally appointed to his ministerial role after the 2021 withdrawal of foreign troops. He has led the Haqqani network, a semi-autonomous paramilitary arm of the Taliban, since inheriting it from his father in 2018, and has primarily had military responsibilities within the Taliban.[3][4][5][6]
As interior minister, he has control over much of the country's internal security forces. As deputy leader of the Taliban, he oversaw armed combat against American and coalition forces, reportedly from a base within North Waziristan District in Pakistan.[citation needed] Haqqani is currently wanted by the FBI for questioning due to his role in the 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack and an attempted assassination of President Hamid Karzai, with the U.S. State Department designating him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and offering a reward of $10 million for information about his location that will lead to his arrest.[7][8]
Early life and education
[edit]Sirajuddin Haqqani is the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, a Pashtun mujahid and military leader of pro-Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Born in December 1979, Sirajuddin, who has brothers from both of his father's wives (Jalaluddin having also married an Arab woman whose children live with her in the United Arab Emirates) grew up in Pakistan. Like his other siblings, he was initially homeschooled by his father before enrolling at the Anjuman Uloom Al-Qur'an, a madrasa in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in 1984, at the age of 5.[9]
He spent his childhood in Miramshah, North Waziristan, Pakistan, and later attended Darul Uloom Haqqania, an influential Deobandi Islamic seminary in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, known to have produced many graduates who ultimately joined the Taliban.[10] The name Haqqani itself was taken from the Darul Uloom Haqqania, attended by many leading figures of the Haqqani network.[11][12]
His younger brother Mohammad Haqqani, also a member of the network, died in a drone attack on 18 February 2010, in Dande Darpakhel, a village in North Waziristan.[13] Other brothers who died include Nasiruddin, Badruddin and Omar. Among the brothers alive, Abdulaziz Haqqani, is also highly influential in the Haqqani Network and currently functions as his deputy while Anas Haqqani has some political and militant influence as well.
Activities
[edit]Militancy
[edit]Haqqani has admitted planning the January 14, 2008 attack against the Serena Hotel in Kabul that killed six people, including American citizen Thor David Hesla.[8] Haqqani confessed his organization and direction of the planning of an attempt to assassinate Hamid Karzai, planned for April 2008.[4][8] His forces have been accused by coalition forces of carrying out the late December 2008 bombing in Kabul at a barracks near an elementary school that killed several schoolchildren, an Afghan soldier, and an Afghan guard; no coalition personnel were affected.[citation needed]
In November 2008, The New York Times reporter David S. Rohde was kidnapped in Afghanistan. His initial captors are believed to have been solely interested in a ransom. Sirajuddin Haqqani is reported to have been Rohde's last captor prior to his escape.[14]
Several reports indicated that Haqqani was targeted in a massive U.S. drone attack on 2 February 2010,[15] but that he was not present in the area affected by the attack.[16]
In March 2010, Haqqani was described as one of the leaders on the "Taliban's Quetta Shura".[17] Sirajuddin Haqqani's deputy, Sangeen Zadran, was killed by a US drone strike on 5 September 2013.[18]
Haqqani was appointed the second deputy leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by Leader Akhtar Mansour upon the latter's election on 29 July 2015. He was elevated to the position of first deputy leader when Hibatullah Akhundzada, who was the first deputy under Mansour, assumed the leadership on 25 May 2016.[19][20][21][22][23]
Jalaluddin Haqqani died in 2018 after a long illness and Sirajuddin became the leader of the Haqqani network, though Jalaluddin may have turned over operational control as early as 2008.[24][25][12]
On 31 May 2020, British Taliban expert Antonio Guistozzi told Foreign Policy that Sirajuddin Haqqani was infected with COVID-19, which resulted in him being absent from the group's leadership mix.[26]
Taliban government since 2021
[edit]When the Taliban retook control of the country in August 2021, the leader of the Islamic Emirate became Afghanistan's de facto ruler and head of state, and the deputy leader became the country's second-most-powerful position.[27][21][28] Haqqani was appointed the acting interior minister of Afghanistan in the Caretaker Cabinet of the Islamic Emirate on 7 September.[29]
Haqqani gave his first ever on-camera interview in May 2022, with Christiane Amanpour in Kabul. Following the interview, he was described by Amanpour as the "heir" to Akhundzada in his capacity as deputy leader and "the most powerful member, frankly, of the current government, and indeed in the Taliban movement" due to Akhundzada's isolation in Kandahar.[28] In the interview, Haqqani acknowledged concern by the international community over the treatment of women by the Taliban, and claimed women's rights would be respected, despite recent crackdowns, including an abrupt closure of secondary schools for girls and a decree requiring women to wear full-body coverings when in public. He claimed the schools would reopen once dress code issues were resolved, and said the veil decree was only advisory, despite evidence to the contrary. Haqqani also said the Taliban wants good relations with the United States and the international community, and no longer sees the U.S. as an enemy.[30][31][32][33]
In February 2023, Haqqani issued a rare rebuke of the government's hardline policies, which was widely interpreted as a criticism aimed at Akhundzada, who has governed in an increasingly autocratic and ultraconservative fashion. Speaking at a religious school in Khost Province, he said: "Monopolizing power and hurting the reputation of the entire system are not to our benefit... more responsibility has been placed on our shoulders and it requires patience and good behavior and engagement with the people." Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid indirectly reacted by saying criticism of the emir should be made in private, without naming Haqqani.[34]
Writings
[edit]In 2010, Haqqani released a 144-page Pashto-language book, a training manual entitled Military Lessons for the Benefit of the Mujahedeen, where he appears more radical than the Talibans, as it shows influences from al-Qaida, supporting beheading and suicide bombings while legitimizing targeting the West, asking Muslims there to "blend in, shave, wear Western dress, be patient."[35] Writing in November 2011, an analyst said some 10,000 copies of the book were printed and distributed in Afghanistan and Pakistan in a single month, describing Haqqani's work as being "printed on high-quality paper, with black-and-white photos and solidly bound, the manual for guerrillas and terrorists opens with directions for how to set up a jihadi cell, how to obtain financing, how to recruit members, and how to train them", also containing details about deadly weapons, how to make and use explosive devices and which infrastructure to target, such as railroad tracks, bridges and more.[36]
When Akhtar Mansour was elected as the new leader of the Taliban in 2015, a communication was posted quoting Sirajuddin Haqqani: "My particular recommendation to all members of the Islamic Emirate is to maintain their internal unity and discipline."[37]
Sirajuddin Haqqani wrote an opinion piece titled "What We, the Taliban, Want", which appeared in The New York Times on 20 February 2020.[38]
References
[edit]- ^ Joscelyn, Thomas (25 June 2021). "Taliban's deputy emir issues guidance for governance in newly seized territory". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan Faces Tough Battle as Haqqanis Unify the Taliban". ABC News. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
- ^ Islamabad Boys Archived 14 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The New Republic, 27 January 2010.
- ^ a b Profile. published by The National Counter-Terrorism Centre. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Hayes, Edward (Retired Army Intelligence Officer (23 August 2015). "Counter Terror: The Ghost Death of Mullah Omar and Crisis: Mansour versus Caliph al-Baghdadi". Counter Terrorism Lectures and Consulting. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017.
- ^ Mehsud, Saleem (23 October 2015). "Kunduz Breakthrough Bolsters Mullah Mansoor as Taliban Leader". CTC Sentinel. Vol. 8, no. 10. Combating Terrorism Centre of Westpoint. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
- ^ Fink, Jenni (7 September 2021). "Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan Cabinet Member, Wanted by FBI, $10 Million Reward Offered". Newsweek.
- ^ a b c "Wanted: Sirajuddun Haqqani". Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ Yusufzai, Arshad (7 March 2022). "Sirajuddin Haqqani, feared and secretive Taliban figure, reveals face in rare public appearance". Arab News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ ur-Rehman, Zia (25 November 2021). "Where Afghanistan's New Taliban Leaders Went to School". The New York Times.
- ^ "Haqqani Militants Act Like Pakistan's Protected Partners". The New York Times. 7 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Haqqani Network". Mapping Militant Organizations. Stanford University. 8 November 2017.
- ^ Shah, Pir Zubair (19 February 2010). "Missile Kills Militant Commander's Brother in Pakistan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ Cole, Matthew (22 June 2009). "The David Rohde Puzzle". New York. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ Shahzad, Syed Saleem (5 February 2010). "US fires off new warning in Pakistan". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
- ^ "Sources: Drone strikes kill 29 in Pakistan". CNN. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ^ Mir, Amir (1 March 2010). "Pakistan wipes out half of Quetta Shura". The News International. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
The remaining nine members of the Quetta Shura who are still at large are believed to be Mullah Hassan Rehmani, the former governor of Kandahar province in Taliban regime; Hafiz Abdul Majeed, the former chief of the Afghan Intelligence and the surge commander of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan; Amir Khan Muttaqi, a former minister in Taliban regime; Agha Jan Mutasim, the Taliban's head of political affairs; Mullah Abdul Jalil, the head of the Taliban's shadowy interior ministry, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani and the commander of the Haqqani militant network; Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, the commander of the Mansoor network in Paktika and Khost; Mullah Abdur Razaq Akhundzada, the former corps commander for northern Afghanistan; and Abdullah Mutmain, a former minister during the Taliban regime who currently looks after the financial affairs of the extremist militia.
- ^ Rehman, Zia Ur (13 September 2013) 'A great blow' Archived 3 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine The Friday Times.
- ^ Goldstein, Joseph (4 October 2015). "Taliban's New Leader Strengthens His Hold With Intrigue and Battlefield Victory". The New York Times. Kabul. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Sofuoglu, Murat (27 September 2021). "How the Taliban governs itself". TRT World. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ a b Sayed, Abdul (8 September 2021). "Analysis: How Are the Taliban Organized?". Voice of America. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Jones, Seth G. (December 2020). "Afghanistan's Future Emirate? The Taliban and the Struggle for Afghanistan". CTC Sentinel. 13 (11). Combating Terrorism Center. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022.
- ^ Azami, Dawood (25 May 2016). "Mawlawi Hibatullah: Taliban's new leader signals continuity". BBC World News. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Sayed, Abdul; Clarke, Colin P. (4 November 2021). "With Haqqanis at the Helm, the Taliban Will Grow Even More Extreme". Foreign Policy.
- ^ Tanzeem, Ayesha (4 September 2018). "Haqqani Network Founder Dies After Long Illness". Voice of America. Kabul. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Taliban Leadership in Disarray on Verge of Peace Talks". Foreign Policy. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020.
- ^ Faulkner, Charlie (3 September 2021). "Spiritual leader is Afghanistan's head of state — with bomb suspect set to be PM". The Times. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ a b @cnnipr (16 May 2022). "In an exclusive interview CNN's chief international anchor @amanpour spoke with one of the Taliban's top leaders Sirajuddin Haqqani" (Tweet). Retweeted by Christiane Amanpour. Kabul. Retrieved 19 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Taliban announce new government for Afghanistan". BBC News. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Shelley, Jo; Popalzai, Ehsan; Mengli, Ahmet; Picheta, Rob (19 May 2022). "Top Taliban leader makes more promises on women's rights but quips 'naughty women' should stay home". Kabul. CNN. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Taliban to Enforce Hijab Decree Despite Protests". Voice of America. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Gul, Ayaz (17 May 2022). "Taliban Leader Indicates Reopening Girls' Schools Depends on Dress Codes". Voice of America. Islamabad, Pakistan. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Safi, Zameer (19 May 2022). "Haqqani: 'We Are Not Forcing Women to Wear Hijab'". TOLOnews. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Faiez, Rahim (15 February 2023). "Ruling Taliban display rare division in public over bans". Islamabad, Pakistan. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Abubakar Siddique, The Pashtun Question: The Unresolved Key to the Future of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Hurst, 2014, p. 173.
- ^ Moreau, Ron (14 November 2011). "Afghanistan: Haqqani's Jihad Manual & the Secret Taliban Letter". Newsweek.
- ^ "Taliban power struggle breaks out in wake of news of Mullah Omar's death". Chicago Tribune. 2 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Haqqani, Sirajuddin (20 February 2020). "Opinion | What We, the Taliban, Want". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
External links
[edit]- Shahzad, Syed Saleem (9 September 2008). "US's 'good' war hits Pakistan hard". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 9 September 2008.
- "Transcript of Siraj Haqqani's interview". BBC News. 8 October 2011.