US Lifts Reward for Taliban Leader Amid Prisoner Release

The United States has lifted the $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Sirajuddin Haqqani, a prominent Taliban leader, Al Jazeera reports, citing spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs.

This announcement comes despite the reward still being listed on the FBI’s website, which states Haqqani is “believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan.”

The reported removal of the reward follows the Taliban’s release of US citizen George Glezmann, who had been held captive since December 2022. Glezmann’s release marks the third time the Taliban has freed a US detainee since January.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Glezmann’s release as a “positive and constructive step” and thanked Qatar for its assistance in securing his freedom.

The Taliban has characterized these releases as part of its efforts towards international “normalization.” Since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has remained largely isolated on the global stage, with no country officially recognizing their government, although several nations maintain diplomatic presence in the country.

The Taliban’s takeover occurred during the US troop withdrawal initiated under the administration of former President Donald Trump, following a 2020 agreement with the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan. The agreement stipulated a 14-month timeline for the withdrawal of US and allied forces but was criticized for excluding the then-Afghan government.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of a prominent commander from the Soviet-Afghan War, leads the Haqqani Network, designated by the US as a “terror group.” The network is known for its use of suicide bombings and has been implicated in high-profile attacks in Kabul, as well as the assassinations of Afghan officials and the kidnapping of Western citizens, including US soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

Haqqani remained a figure of US interest even after the Taliban’s ascendance to power. In 2022, a US drone strike in Kabul resulted in the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was reportedly residing in a house linked to Haqqani.