Haqqani network chief died a year ago? Family denies
Family members of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the fearsome Haqqani network, have denied reports of his death.
Family members of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the fearsome Haqqani network, have denied reports of his death.
Haqqani, in his 70s, is reported to have been in ill health in recent years and has given up most day-to-day control of his Taliban-allied militant network to his son, Sirajuddin.
The Haqqani network is blamed for some of Afghanistan's deadliest suicide attacks.
Two other family members insisted Haqqani was not dead after Pakistani media reported his demise.
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"Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, no doubt, has become aged and suffering from different diseases but by the grace of Allah, he is safe and sound and alive," a close family member said.
However, a third member of the family said the reports were true. Haqqani "died of a brain haemorrhage a year and half ago. He is buried in the Zadran area of Khost province," this person told Reuters.
The contradictory reports come a day after the Taliban confirmed that its founder Mullah Mohammed Omar had died some time ago, signifying a major shift in Afghanistan's militant leadership. The Afghan government said he died in 2013.
Mullah Omar's replacement, Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour, appointed Sirajuddin Haqqani as his deputy, underscoring the links between the Afghan insurgency and the Haqqani network, who are believed to be close to Pakistan's feared Inter Services Intelligence.
The Haqqanis have been blamed for some of the most spectacular attacks against American targets in Afghanistan, a raid on Kabul's top hotel, an assassination attempt on then-President Hamid Karzai and a suicide bombing at the Indian Embassy.
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