US removes $10 million bounty on Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani: Report

This move could indicate a potential deal between the Haqqanis and the administration of US President Donald Trump. (Picture credit: AP)

The United States has lifted its $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, according to an Afghan interior ministry spokesperson, CNN-News18 reported on Saturday.

Sources told CNN-News18 that this move could indicate a potential deal between the Haqqanis and the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Previously, the US State Department had offered rewards of $10 million for Sirajuddin Haqqani, $5 million for Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and $5 million for Yahya Haqqani under the Rewards for Justice program. The Haqqani Network, which the US designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, has long been accused of orchestrating attacks on American and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Sirajuddin Haqqani currently serves as Afghanistan’s first deputy leader and acting interior minister in the Taliban-led government. His faction was previously on Washington’s radar for its involvement in high-profile attacks, including the 2008 bombing of the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed six people, including a US citizen.

Sources close to the Haqqanis told CNN-News18 that their names have disappeared from the Rewards for Justice website.

“Sirajuddin Haqqani’s role in the Afghan government is crucial in shaping the country’s relationship with the US,” a source told CNN-News18, highlighting the evolving dynamics between Washington and the Taliban administration.

Another source suggested that the US decision may be linked to Haqqani’s role in securing the release of American citizens through negotiations with Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation.