KABUL: One of the crucial Taleban’s maximum secretive leaders, whose most effective image on US “maximum sought after” lists is a grainy semi-covered profile, was once photographed brazenly for the primary time the day before today at a passing-out parade for brand spanking new Afghan police recruits. Inner Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who additionally heads the dreaded Haqqani Community, has up to now most effective been photographed obviously from in the back of – even because the hardline Islamists seized energy ultimate August.
“In your delight and for construction your believe… I’m showing within the media in a public assembly with you,” he mentioned in a speech on the parade. Ahead of the Taleban’s go back, Haqqani was once essentially the most senior of 3 deputies to chief Hibatullah Akhundzada. Akhundzada himself hasn’t been noticed in public for years, and plenty of Afghan analysts consider he won’t also be alive.
Haqqani heads an impressive subset of the Taleban blamed for one of the vital worst violence of the previous two decades. The US has introduced a praise of as much as $10 million for info resulting in his arrest, pronouncing he was once accountable for a string of terror assaults. Footage of Haqqani have been being extensively shared on social media the day before today via Taleban officers who had up to now most effective posted pictures that didn’t display his face, or if it have been digitally blurred.
On the police parade the day before today, Haqqani was once dressed like most of the senior Taleban officers – very closely bearded and dressed in a black turban and white scarf. He mentioned he was once appearing his face so “it’s worthwhile to know the way a lot price now we have with our management”. Haqqani’s look additionally suggests the Taleban have grown much more assured in their cling at the nation since seizing energy on August 15, two weeks earlier than the ultimate US-led overseas forces left.
A number of diplomats have been within the crowd – together with Pakistan’s ambassador – despite the fact that no nation has formally known the brand new Taleban regime. The Haqqani Community, based within the Nineteen Seventies via Jalaluddin Haqqani, was once closely supported via the CIA right through the mujahideen battle towards the Soviet profession of Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is assumed to be in his 40s, is his son, and succeeded him following his demise in 2018.
The latter was once blamed for the fatal 2008 assault on Kabul’s Serena Lodge that killed six folks, in addition to no less than one assassination strive towards former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The FBI Rewards for Justice program says he maintains “shut ties” to Al Qaeda, and “is a specifically designated international terrorist”.
He’s reported to had been the objective of a number of US drone moves – in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and within the rugged terrain between them that’s the heartland of the Haqqani Community. He was once additionally credited because the writer of a New York Instances opinion piece in 2020 titled “What We, the Taliban, Need”, sparking controversy that the newspaper had given “terrorists” a public platform. – AFP