The Haqqani Network is an independent insurgent group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Haqqanis belong to the eastern Zadran tribe. They hold major clout on both sides of the Afghan/Pakistan border and act as a “bridge” between Pakistani Taliban groups and al-Qaeda linked foreign fighters.
Founder Jalaluddin Haqqani has a historical alliance with the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. The Haqqanis also work more closely with the Pakistani Taliban than any other Afghan insurgent groups. This dynamic is what makes the Haqqani Network one of the most dangerous, capable, and difficult to track insurgent groups in Afghanistan. The network works closely with foreign militants, such as those belonging to the Islamic Jihad Union.
The Haqqani network is now under the leadership of Sirajuddin Haqqani, and has expanded greatly over the past few years. The network has been credited with the innovation of suicide attacks, which have been one of their most commonly used tactics.
THREAT GROUP PROFILE META DATA & ANALYSIS
Group Alias: None
Group Activities: The Haqqani network has been involved in a number of devastating attacks in the region. Specifically, they are active in the Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar and Ghazni provinces. They have claimed responsibility for the March 3, 2008 suicide truck bombing against the Sabri district headquarters in Khost and an earlier assault on January 14, 2008 against the Serena hotel in Kabul, which left seven people dead. The failed attempt to assassinate Afghan president Hamid Karzai in April 2009 has also been attributed to the Haqqani Network, although Hezb-i-Islami and senior Afghan defense officials may have provided logistical assistance. Telephone intercepts by U.S. and Indian intelligence agencies have allegedly confirmed a link between the ISI and Haqqani operatives in the planning and execution of the suicide car bomb attack against India’s embassy in Kabul on July 7, 2008. The network has also been linked to the December 27, 2008 attack in Khost, which killed 14 Afghan children as they were leaving school.
Individuals Involved: Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani: An Afghan residing in North Waziristan, Jalaluddin is one of the most important military commanders fighting against the Afghan government and U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He is credited with introducing suicide bombing as a tactic and is aligned with Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and the ISI. This relationship with the ISI dates back to the Afghan-Soviet war. During that time, he received a large amount of money and weapons from both the Saudis and the CIA. Haqqani joined the Taliban in 1995 and by 1996 he had become their top military commander north of Kabul. As a reward for his successes as a commander, he was appointed Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs for the Taliban until their removal in 2001. Haqqani is considered to be the second most important figure for the Taliban, after Mullah Omar. Sirajuddin “Siraj” Haqqani: Also known as “Khalifa,” Siraj has recently taken the reigns of the organization from his father, Jalaluddin. He has proven to be more dynamic than his father by greatly expanding the network in the past few years. NATO officials have declared Siraj to be one of the most dangerous Taliban commanders in the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan. In March of 2009, the U.S. Department of State put a $5 million bounty out for information leading to his capture or conviction. The U.S. is especially concerned with his tendency to target civilians in his attacks.
Operating Region: Network headquarters are based out of a Taliban bastion in Dande Darpa Khel near Miramshah, North Waziristan. The Manba Ulom madrassa, founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, is thought to be a central location for headquarter functions. Zambar village in the northern Sabari district of Khost province, serves as the group’s major operations hub. The Haqqani Network has been most active in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar and Ghazni.
Strength: The Haqqanis control large swaths of the tribal area and run a parallel administration with courts, recruiting centers, tax offices, and security forces. The weapons they use include suicide vests, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and AK-47 assault rifles.
External Aid: The Haqqani Network has long-standing ties to the ISI. There has also been information indicating support from high-ranking members of the Afghan government including the former police chief of Kabul, chief of the defense ministry’s intelligence and detection wing, chief of counterterrorism in the interior ministry and the head of the intelligence department in Kabul. The network also has extensive ties to al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban.
Bibliography: Ali, Imitaz “The Haqqani Network and Cross-Border Terrorism in Afghanistan” Terrorism Monitor, 3/24/2008. http://ift.tt/1rssLjL Dupee, Matt “The Haqqani Network: Reign of terror” The Long War Journal, 8/2/2008. http://ift.tt/1iXYdWk Gall, Carlotta “Old-Line Taliban Commander Is Face of Rising Afghan Threat” New York Times, 6/17/2008. http://ift.tt/1rssLjN Gopal, Anand “Key Afghan insurgents open door to talks” The Christian Science Monitor, 3/19/2009. http://ift.tt/1iXYdWo --- “The most deadly US foe in Afghanistan” Christian Science Monitor, 5/31/2009. http://ift.tt/1rssIo0 “Jalaluddin Haqqani” Frontline, 10/3//2006. http://ift.tt/MZnuTO Qazi, Abdullah “Jalaluddin Haqqani” Afghanistan Online, 9/18/2008. http:///www.afghan-web.com/bios/haqqani.html Roggio, Bill “Coalition targets Haqqani Network commander, kills 29 fighters” The Long War Journal, 5/28/2009. http://ift.tt/1iXYfxh ---“Taliban suicide team strikes Peshawar hotel in latest complex assault” The Long War Journal, 6/9/2009. http://ift.tt/1iXYdWr ---“US places bounty on senior Taliban and al Qaeda leaders” The Long War Journal, 3/25/2009. http://ift.tt/1iXYfxj United States Central Command “Coalition forces target Haqqani network in Paktiya” 12/30/2008. http://ift.tt/1rssLA9
Status: Active
Date posted: April 26, 2014
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