The United States has lifted a $10 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of major Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, according to an Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesperson. Despite this announcement, the FBI still lists the reward on its website, citing Haqqani’s involvement in attacks against US and coalition forces.
This decision comes shortly after the Taliban released American citizen George Glezmann, who had been held captive for two years. Glezmann’s release marks the third time a US detainee has been freed by the Taliban since January. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the release a positive step and thanked Qatar for its role in securing Glezmann’s freedom.
The Taliban, still considered an international pariah following their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, has described the release of US detainees as part of their global normalization efforts. No country has officially recognized the Taliban government, although several countries continue to operate diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan.
Haqqani, the son of a renowned commander, led the powerful Haqqani Network, a US-designated terror group responsible for high-profile attacks in Kabul. Despite the Taliban’s takeover, Haqqani remained on the US radar, with a US drone strike in 2022 killing then-al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri at a house linked to Haqqani.
The Taliban’s release of US detainees, including Glezmann, has been seen as a positive gesture amid ongoing efforts to transition Afghanistan to a more stable state. The lifting of the bounty on Haqqani may reflect a shifting dynamic in US-Taliban relations following the group’s ascension to power in Afghanistan.
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