Who are the Haqqani, the Taliban’s tough wing among Afghanistan’s most feared fighters, and how they operate

Some of the key Taliban leaders met in Kabul to discuss the formation of a new Afghan government, including representatives of the network of Haqqani, the country’s most ruthless and feared activists.

The Haqqani were designated as responsible for some of the bloodiest attacks in recent years, which claimed the lives of civilians, government officials and foreign forces.

Despite its reputation, this group qualified as terrorist in the United States must play an important role in the regime of the Taliban, which seized power last week in Afghanistan.

– Who are the Haqqani? –

The group was trained by Jalaluddin Haqqani, who rose to prominence in the 1980s as a hero of the anti-Soviet jihad. He was later seen as a valuable CIA resource when the United States and its allies, like Pakistan, allocated money and weapons to the Mujahedin.

During this conflict and after the Soviet withdrawal, Jalaluddin Haqqani sought to establish relations with foreign jihadists, including Osama bin Laden.

He then allied with the Taliban who seized power in Afghanistan in 1996 and served as minister of the Islamist regime. until he was overthrown in 2001 by a US-led coalition.

Jalaluddin Haqqani’s death after a long illness was announced by the Taliban in 2018, and his son Sirajuddin became head of the network.

Thanks to their financial and military might, and their reputation for ruthlessness, the Haqqani network is considered semi-autonomous within the Taliban.

Based primarily in eastern Afghanistan, with alleged bases along the border in northwest Pakistan, the group has grown in prominence in the leadership of the Taliban in recent years, and Sirajuddin Haqqani has been appointed deputy leader of the movement in 2015.

His little brother Anas, who was sentenced to death by the previous Afghan government, spoke with former President Hamid Karzai and former government negotiator Abdullah Abdullah since the capture of Kabul.

– Why are they so feared? –

The Haqqani network is accused of being behind the bloodiest attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

It is considered a terrorist group by the United States and is subject to United Nations sanctions.

The Haqqani have the reputation for using suicide bombers, and they know how to carry out complex and wounding attacks, especially against military installations.

The network is accused of several murders – including an attempt against former President Hamid Karzai in 2008 – to kidnap officials and Western citizens, to obtain the payment of ransoms or to force prisoner exchanges.

They are also suspected of having relations with the Pakistani army, which the defeated Afghan government has always accused of trying to destabilize Afghanistan.

US Admiral Mike Mullen described the Haqqani as a “real arm” of the Pakistani secret service in 2011.

The Haqqani network was instrumental in the victories of the Taliban, who are “the most combat-ready forces” according to a UN report released in June. In this report, the armed group is described as the “main link” between the Taliban and the Al Qaida network.

– What is your role in the new Taliban regime? –

The Haqqani must play an important role in the Taliban government. Two of its leaders are currently in Kabul as the formation of the new executive is debated.

The fact that Sirajuddin Haqqani is number two in the Taliban confirms this relevance, according to several analysts.

Sirajuddim Haqqani and his uncle Khalil – who led prayers last Friday in Kabul – are wanted by the United States, which is offering several million dollars for information leading to their capture.

(With AFP information / by David Fox, with Qasim Nauman in Seoul)

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