Jalaluddin Haqqani – chief of Haqqani Network and father of Maulvi Sirajuddin Haqqani – died nearly a year ago of natural causes and was buried in Afghan province of Khost, private TV channels reported on Friday.
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The confirmation about Jalaluddin Haqqani’s came a few days after the Taliban fighting in the war-torn country also confirmed the death of its Chief one-eyed Mullah Muhammad Omar.
Pakistan announced on July 30 that peace talks scheduled for July 31 between Afghan government negotiators and Taliban representatives have been postponed due to reports of Mullah Omar’s death.
When American troops arrived after the 9/11 attacks, Jalaluddin sought refuge in North Waziristan and became one of the first anti-US commanders based in Pakistan’s border areas. He pledged allegiance to the Taliban in the 90s where he served as the Minister for Tribal and Internal affairs.
The network has training bases in eastern Afghanistan and is close to Al-Qaeda.
It follows the announcement this week of the death of Mullah Omar, the Taliban’s spiritual leader.
Jalaluddin Haqqani had 10 sons of whom three were killed in US drone attacks while the fourth, Naseeruddin Haqqani was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad in 2013.
They are considered to be closest militant group to Pak Army, as former DG ISI Shuja Pasha stated before Abbottabad Commission that Haqqani Network was a brainchild of ISI and Central Intelligence Agency, and was formed to fight against Soviet Union. Naseeruddin was the group’s chief fundraiser.
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Sirajuddin Haqqani is also among the most wanted terrorists list of the United States and there’s a bounty of 10 million dollars on him.
