Jalaluddin Haqqani

Jalaluddin Haqqani
جلال الدين حقاني
Jalaluddin Haqqani
Born1939[1]
Paktia Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died3 September 2018 (aged 78–79)[2]
Afghanistan
Buried
Afghanistan[3]
Allegiance Haqqani Network (1970s-2018)
Taliban (1995-2018)
Years of service1970s–2018
Battles / wars
RelationsKhalil Haqqani (brother)
Sirajuddin Haqqani (son)
Anas Haqqani (son)
Abdulaziz Haqqani (son)

Jalaluddin Haqqani (Pashto: جلال الدين حقاني, romanized: Jalāl al-Dīn Ḥaqqānī) (1939 – 3 September 2018)[4][5] was an Afghan insurgent commander who founded the Haqqani network, an insurgent group who fought in guerilla warfare against US-led NATO forces and the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government that they supported.

He distinguished himself as an internationally sponsored insurgent fighter in the 1980s during the Soviet–Afghan War, including in Operation Magistral. He earned U.S. praise and was called "goodness personified" by the U.S. officials.[6][7] US officials have admitted that during the Soviet–Afghan War, he was a prized asset of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).[8] Former U.S. president Ronald Reagan called Jalaluddin Haqqani a "freedom fighter" during the Soviet–Afghan War.[9] By 2004, he was directing pro-Taliban insurgent group to launch a holy war in Afghanistan. In 2016, U.S. Lieutenant General John W. Nicholson Jr. claimed that the U.S. and NATO were not targeting Haqqani's network in Afghanistan.[10]

Media reports emerged in late July 2015 that Haqqani had died the previous year. According to the reports, he died in Afghanistan and was buried in Khost Province of Afghanistan.[11] These reports were denied by the Taliban and some members of the Haqqani family.[12][13] On 3 September 2018, the Taliban released a statement announcing that Haqqani had died after a long illness in Afghanistan.[3]

  1. ^ "WHO WAS JALALUDDIN HAQQANI? 'EXEMPLARY WARRIOR' FOUNDED AFGHAN HAQQANI NETWORK". Newsweek. 9 April 2018.
  2. ^ Salahuddin, Sayed (4 September 2018). "Jalaluddin Haqqani: Implacable U.S. foe dies in Afghanistan says Taliban". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Haqqani Network Founder Dies After Long Illness". Voice of America (VoA). 4 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019.
  4. ^ Brown, Vahid; Rassler, Don (2013). Fountainhead of Jihad: The Haqqani Nexus, 1973–2012. Oxford University Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-19-932798-0.
  5. ^ Rashid, Ahmed (2012). Pakistan in the Brink. Allen Lane. pp. 18, 52–53, 131, 133–134, 154, 180, 187. ISBN 9781846145858.
  6. ^ "Leader of Haqqani network in Afghanistan is dead, say Taliban". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  7. ^ Smith, Alexander; Yusufzai, Mushtaq (4 September 2018). "Haqqani network's founder dies after long illness, Afghan Taliban says". NBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of Afghan militant network, dies". Gulf News. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  9. ^ McCallister, Doreen (4 September 2018). "Taliban Announce: Founder Of Much-Feared Haqqani Network Dies At 72". NPR. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  10. ^ Gul, Ayaz (29 January 2016). "US Will Not Target Haqqanis in Afghanistan". Voice of America. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ^ "'Haqqani Network's chief died a year ago'". Daily Times. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Reports of Haqqani network founder's death, but family denies". Reuters. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Taliban deny reports of Haqqani network founder's death". AFP. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.