RASC News Agency: The U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday that while Sirajuddin Haqqani and the Haqqani Network remain designated as terrorist entities by the United States, there is currently no bounty placed on the Taliban’s interior minister. Sources close to Sirajuddin Haqqani report that the State Department has discreetly withdrawn the reward previously offered for the capture of key Haqqani Network leaders. Despite this adjustment, Haqqani’s name remains listed as a “Global Terrorist” on both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. State Department websites.
In addition to Sirajuddin Haqqani, Aziz Haqqani, Yahya Haqqani, and several other senior figures within the network have also been removed from the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program. This initiative, which offers multimillion-dollar rewards for information leading to the apprehension of high-profile terrorists, had previously included Aziz and Yahya Haqqani due to their close affiliations with Sirajuddin Haqqani. Three days after reports surfaced regarding these changes, the U.S. State Department has refrained from issuing a formal public statement. However, in response to media inquiries, officials reiterated that U.S. policy including the Rewards for Justice program is subject to continuous review and modification.
The department further clarified: “While no bounty is currently being offered for the capture of these individuals, they remain designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT), and the Haqqani Network continues to be classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).” The Rewards for Justice program, administered by the U.S. State Department, provides multimillion-dollar rewards for credible intelligence leading to the apprehension of high-profile terrorists.
The removal of Haqqani Network operatives from the program has elicited a favorable response from the Taliban. Last week, the group released an American citizen as a purported “gesture of goodwill.” Some analysts interpret this development as a strategic concession to the Haqqani Network, widely regarded as one of the Taliban’s most powerful and operationally sophisticated factions.
