Haqqani Network, Taliban Separate, Says US, As Pakistani Terrorist Emerges In Afghanistan

A Pakistani protege, Khalil Haqqani, who has a USD 5 million reward after the US designated him a terrorist 10 years ago is a regular visitor to Pakistan's military headquarters in Rawalpindi, is one of the new rulers of Afghanistan, reported The New York Times.

Despite close links between terrorist groups Taliban and Haqqani Network, the US State Department on Friday (local time) said that they are two separate entities. During a press briefing, when US State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked about sharing information regarding the security of Kabul airport with the Taliban and whether it was extended to Haqqani Network, Mr Price replied, "The Taliban and Haqqani Network are two separate entities." Despite his denial, it is reported that the Taliban and the Haqqani Network share strong links. The US first designated the Haqqani Network as a terrorist organisation in 2012. The National Counter-terrorism Center said the Haqqanis "is considered the most lethal and sophisticated terror group targeting US, Coalition, and Afghan forces" and said the Haqqani Network was considered a terrorist group "because of its involvement in the Afghan insurgency, attacks on US military and civilian personnel and Western interests in Afghanistan, and because of its ties to the Taliban and Al Qaeda."