The founder of the Haqqani network, Jalaluddin Haqqani, is dead, Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid announced. Haqqani died after a prolonged illness. Haqanni network was one of Afghanistan’s most effective and feared militant groups.
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Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose son Sirajuddin Haqqani now heads the brutal group and is also the Taliban’s deputy leader, died “after a long battle with illness”, the Taliban said in a statement.
He was a member of Quetta Shura, a terrorist organisation comprising Afghan Taliban leaders, who are believed to be based in Balochistan, according to US media reports.
Mujahid further said that Haqqani was an instrumental figure in keeping the Taliban together after the death of former Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
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Haqqani was closely tied to al Qaeda leaders and had played a key role in supporting the terror group in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Haqqani is the father of Taliban deputy emir and military commander Sirajuddin Haqqani.