The U.S. government has listed three new Haqqani Network leaders on its global terrorists list, a move that will mount pressure on the network as the Afghan fighting season nears and the Presidential election commences.
The U.S. Department of Treasury said that the three leaders are Muhammad Omer Zadran, Saidullah Jan and Yahya Haqqani, who are key members in facilitating financial and operational support for the Haqqani Network.
Mr. Saidullah Jan, a Pakistani national, is the commander of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan. Yahya Haqqani, also a Pakistani national and brother in-law to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of Haqqani Network, is a coordinator between the Al-Qaeda and Haqqani networks. Mr Zadran, an Afghan national, is overseeing the Haqqani operations in Afghanistan and is a close associate to the Taliban.
The Haqqani Network has been behind many high-profile attacks in Kabul, including the 48-hour assault on the U.S. Embassy two years ago.
The Haqqani Network is listed as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. and its allies, and has been known to provide training and financing for the Afghan Taliban. It is also linked with al-Qaeda.
Mawlawi Jalaluddin Haqqani is thought to be the leader of the Haqqani Network. He fought in the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan.