The United States has reportedly lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current Interior Minister of Afghanistan and leader of the Haqqani network, a group previously implicated in numerous attacks during the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
The Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs announced that the U.S. removed the $10 million reward for information leading to Haqqani’s arrest. Despite this, the FBI’s website continues to list Haqqani as wanted, indicating a possible discrepancy between official statements and publicly available information.
This development follows the recent release of American citizen George Glezmann, who had been detained by the Taliban for over two years. The Taliban agreed to release Glezmann in exchange for improved diplomatic relations with the U.S., rather than their previous demand for the release of Taliban prisoners.
The lifting of bounties is perceived by the Taliban as a step toward breaking international isolation and normalizing relations with the global community. However, ongoing sanctions and concerns about the Taliban’s policies, particularly those affecting women and girls, continue to impact their international legitimacy.
The U.S. State Department has not officially commented on the removal of the bounties, and the situation remains fluid as both nations navigate the complexities of their evolving relationship.
