Haqqani Network Leader Dies after Long illness

The Taliban have announced the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the leader of Afghanistan’s Haqqani militant group – one of the most powerful and feared affiliates of the insurgency.

The Taliban have announced the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the leader of Afghanistan’s Haqqani militant group – one of the most powerful and feared affiliates of the insurgency.
The Taliban said he died after “a long struggle with a disease”, according to the monitoring group Site.
According to the statement, Haqqani has been buried in Afghanistan.
Haqqani relinquished operational leadership of the group some years ago to his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, now deputy leader of the Afghan Taliban.
Haqqani joined the Taliban government as minister for tribal affairs after they captured Kabul in 1996, fleeing after they were ousted in late 2001 and taking up arms again.
The Haqqani network was declared a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2012. The elderly founder had been paralysed for the past 10 years.
Haqqani had not been heard from in several years. Reports of his death had been widespread in 2015.
Haqqani was named the second most important Taliban leader after former Taliban leader Mullah Omar.