Washington DC: The US has removed its $10 million bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani, a senior Taliban figure and Afghanistan’s acting interior minister, following the Taliban’s release of American citizen George Glezmann last Thursday. The decision, announced by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, marks a significant shift in US policy regarding Haqqani, who has long been accused of orchestrating deadly attacks against US and coalition forces.
Despite the reported removal, the FBI’s website still lists Haqqani as a wanted figure, describing him as having “coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks” and being linked to the Haqqani Network, a US-designated terrorist group notorious for its role in kidnappings, assassinations, and high-profile attacks in Afghanistan.
The bounty’s removal follows negotiations mediated by Qatar, which secured the safe release of Glezmann, a 65-year-old American abducted in Afghanistan in December 2022. His freedom comes after months of diplomatic efforts by Trump’s special hostage envoy Adam Boehler, marking the third US detainee freed by the Taliban since January.
US-Taliban relations and the Haqqani network’s role
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of a famed anti-Soviet warlord, has been a key figure in the Taliban’s rule since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The Haqqani Network, which he leads, has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous militant groups in the region, infamous for its use of suicide bombers and the kidnapping of Westerners for ransom.
Despite its ties to terrorism, the Taliban continues to push for global legitimacy, describing the release of US hostages as part of their “normalisation” efforts. However, the group remains unrecognized internationally, with no formal diplomatic recognition from the US or other Western nations.
The decision to lift Haqqani’s bounty has sparked debate in Washington, given his role in past attacks and alleged links to al-Qaeda leadership. In 2022, a US drone strike in Kabul killed al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was reportedly staying in a Haqqani-controlled safe house.
While US officials have not yet confirmed the complete removal of Haqqani from its wanted list, the move is being seen as part of a broader diplomatic strategy to engage with the Taliban amid ongoing concerns about Afghanistan’s stability and counterterrorism efforts.
As the Taliban continues its push for international acceptance, questions remain about whether removing sanctions and bounties on figures like Haqqani signals a softening stance by the US—or a pragmatic move in hostage negotiations.
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