Afghanistan: Founder of Haqqani militant network dies

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

The founding leader of the Haqqani Network, Jalaluddin Haqqani, has died after a long illness, the Taliban in Afghanistan announced on Tuesday.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said in a statement: “It is with great regret that we inform....Al-Haj Mawlawi Jalaluddin Haqqani has passed away after a long battle with illness.”

The 79- year-old former Mujahedeen leader stepped down some years ago, paving way for his son Sirajuddin Haqqani to lead the militant group.

Haqqani spearheaded the US-backed campaign against Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan but later allied himself with the Taliban serving as a minister in their government. After Taliban rule ended in 2001, he launched several attacks on American troops and Afghan officials.

There has been no immediate reaction from the Afghan government over his demise.

Haqqani had been charged by the U.S. and the Kabul administration for having deep-rooted ties with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI and for orchestrating lethal attacks from their bastions in North Wazirisitan, including a 19-hour siege at the American Embassy in September 2011.

Islamabad has rejected these charges repeatedly.