US Removes Two Haqqani Network Members from Wanted List, Says AP

The Taliban has claimed that, in addition to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group’s interior minister, two other members of the Haqqani network, Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani, have been removed from the U.S. list of most-wanted individuals.

According to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, these individuals are brothers and a nephew of Sirajuddin Haqqani. This announcement was reported by the Associated Press on March 23.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani network, remains on the FBI’s most-wanted poster, with his name still on the U.S. list. U.S. officials have yet to comment on this development.

Taliban officials have linked the recent freedom of an American citizen and the removal of reward offers for Sirajuddin Haqqani’s capture to the deepening relations between the group and Washington.

The Haqqani network, one of the deadliest branches of the Taliban, became notorious for roadside bombings, suicide attacks, and other violent operations, including assaults on embassies and the Afghanistan presidency.

The Haqqani network has also been accused of criminal activities such as extortion and kidnapping, which has added to its violent reputation. The group’s strategic actions have significantly shaped the security situation in Afghanistan.

While the Taliban’s alleged improvement in ties with the U.S. remains unclear, the shift in the Haqqani network’s status on the U.S. wanted list has sparked concerns about future diplomatic developments and security implications.

The U.S. State Department classified the Haqqani network as a “foreign terrorist organization” in September 2012. It offered rewards ranging from $5 to $10 million for information leading to the capture of key leaders of the network, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, Khalilur Rahman Haqqani, Yahya Haqqani, and Abdul Rauf Zakir.

However, the names of these individuals have now been removed from the “Rewards for Justice” section of the U.S. State Department’s website.

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