Death of Haqqani

In militant circles, death seems to be coming swiftly and taking away some of the most important leaders of the movement that has terrorised the region for decades. Days after the Afghan government announced the death of Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, media across the world have again been quoting sources as saying that the head and founder of the powerful Haqqani Network Jalaluddin Haqqani is dead – and most probably he died about a year ago. Taliban sources have been quoted as confirming this, though Jalaluddin’s own family has issued denials. The fresh reports, picking up on others that have been circulating for months, appear to be based around the news that the Afghan Taliban have appointed Akhtar Mansoor as its chief and Sirajuddin Haqqani, Jalaluddin’s son, as one of the deputies of the group while his father is not named at any level. Sirajuddin has led the Haqqani outfit for many years in terms of its fighting capacity. The network, formed nearly 30 years ago during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, is best known for its massive terrorist attacks on western forces inside Afghanistan. It has long been alleged that it has had links with Pakistan’s intelligence establishment, built during the battle against the Soviet invasion of that country, a factor which made it especially important in the regional militant situation and also in Pak-Afghan politics.
It is as yet unclear what the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani will mean in real terms. The Pakistan military launched an operation in North Waziristan, the Haqqani stronghold within the country, just over a year ago and it is uncertain to what degree they have gone after the Haqqanis. The US has for a very long time pressured for the group to be treated as terrorists with both Jalaluddin and Sirajuddin listed as some of the most wanted men by that country. With Jalaluddin and Mullah Omar no longer on the scene, the balance of power will also change within the Taliban and the groups that formed a nexus with it including the Haqqani Network. Precisely how this will work out is something to be seen. But we do know that Mansoor appears to favour talks with the Afghan government. And without Jalaluddin, there may be less opposition to this from the ring of forces that surround the Taliban and have been influential in dictating the policies and strategies it follows. Jalaluddin, as a much revered jihadist leader, had held together militant forces. His death will inevitably weaken them.