Sirajuddin Haqqani

Sirajuddin Haqqani

• Full name: Sirajuddin Haqqani
• Date of birth: c. 1973
• Place of birth: Loya Paktia, Afghanistan
• Nationality: Afghan
• Occupation: Leader of the Haqqani Network
• Religion: Islam

Background

Sirajuddin Haqqani is a senior leader of the Haqqani Network, a militant group based in Afghanistan. He is the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the Haqqani Network, and is believed to be the group's current leader.

Haqqani was born in Loya Paktia, Afghanistan, in about 1973. He grew up in a religious family and attended a madrassa, or Islamic school. In the early 1990s, he joined the Afghan mujahideen, who were fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, Haqqani and his father founded the Haqqani Network. The group quickly became one of the most powerful militant groups in Afghanistan, and was responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and international forces.

Leadership of the Haqqani Network

Haqqani is believed to have taken over as leader of the Haqqani Network after his father's death in 2018. He is considered to be a skilled military commander and a close ally of the Taliban.

Under Haqqani's leadership, the Haqqani Network has continued to carry out attacks against Afghan and international forces. The group has also been accused of carrying out suicide bombings and other attacks against civilians.

Relationship with the Taliban

The Haqqani Network is closely allied with the Taliban, and the two groups have often fought together against Afghan and international forces. However, there have also been reports of tensions between the two groups.

In 2015, the Taliban announced that it had expelled Haqqani from the group. However, the Haqqani Network denied this claim, and the two groups continued to cooperate.

Designation as a terrorist

The Haqqani Network has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Haqqani himself has also been designated as a terrorist by the United States.

Bounty for Haqqani's capture

The United States has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Haqqani's capture.