Kabul: The Taliban government in Afghanistan claims that the United States has removed the Taliban’s acting Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, from its list of wanted individuals and canceled the $10 million bounty previously placed on him.
According to a statement from the Taliban's Ministry of Interior, confirmed by Reuters, Haqqani, along with two other senior Taliban leaders, has been taken off the U.S. wanted list. However, as of now, American authorities have not commented on this claim, and the FBI’s official website still lists a $10 million reward for information on Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, along with Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani, was wanted by the U.S. for planning and executing deadly attacks against American and allied forces in Afghanistan.
In a video message aired by Al Jazeera, Anas Haqqani, Sirajuddin Haqqani’s brother and a senior Taliban official, welcomed the reported development. He stated that the U.S. has realized that Afghanistan no longer poses a threat and noted that five Taliban leaders who were previously on the wanted list had been actively attending meetings and engaging in diplomatic activities.
Anas Haqqani also claimed that removing Taliban leaders from international sanctions lists was part of the U.S.-Taliban Doha Agreement.
This development follows the recent release of American citizen George Glazman, who was freed by the Taliban after two years in captivity. Glazman, detained in 2022, was released following visits to Kabul by former U.S. presidential advisor Adam Boehler and ex-U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. The Taliban described his release as a goodwill gesture.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Glazman’s release a “positive and constructive step” and thanked Qatar for its crucial role in the process.
Sirajuddin Haqqani recently traveled to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with the UN Security Council granting him a travel exemption for the Umrah pilgrimage from January 23 to February 3. Reports suggest that he also held meetings in the UAE during his trip.
While U.S. officials have not yet commented on Haqqani’s alleged removal from the wanted list, the move is seen as a potential effort by the U.S administration to engage with the Taliban. However, President Donald Trump has recently warned the Taliban against keeping U.S. weapons left behind in Afghanistan, hinting at possible future actions to reclaim them.
The Taliban, now in power for over three years, continue to face international criticism, particularly over human rights violations, including bans on women’s education and employment. However, Western governments are reportedly exploring diplomatic engagement with the group under the condition of improving human rights conditions in the country.
