KABUL – The founder of the Haqqani network, one of Afghanistan’s mosteffective and feared militant groups, has died after a long illness, theiraffiliates the Afghan Taliban announced Tuesday.
Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose son Sirajuddin Haqqani now heads the brutal groupand is also the Taliban’s deputy leader, died “after a long battle withillness”, the Taliban said in a statement.
Jalaluddin “was from among the great distinguished Jihadi personalities ofthis era”, the Taliban said in a statement posted on Twitter.
During the 1980s the Haqqani figurehead was an Afghan mujahideen commanderfighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan with the help of the US andPakistan.
He gained notoriety for his organisation and bravery, garnering attentionfrom the CIA and a personal visit from US congressman Charlie Wilson.
A fluent Arabic speaker, Jalaluddin also fostered close ties with Arabjihadists including Osama Bin Laden who flocked to the region during thewar. Later, Jalaluddin became a minister in the Taliban regime.
It was not clear when or where he died. At various times in recent yearsthere have been rumours of his death.
Given the already leading role played by his son, it is not clear whatJalaluddin’s demise will mean for the extremist group.