The United States has removed financial rewards for the capture of three prominent Taliban leaders, signaling a change in policy and a potential shift in relations between the two nations. Among those taken off the list is the Taliban’s Interior Minister, known for orchestrating deadly attacks during the time of Afghanistan’s Western-backed government.
The absence of Sirajuddin Haqqani’s name from the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program was noticed, although the FBI still lists him as wanted. His history includes overseeing a notorious attack on Kabul’s Serena Hotel in 2008, which resulted in multiple fatalities, including an American citizen. Despite this, the U.S. seems to be softening its stance.
Taliban representatives in Kabul confirmed the reduced bounties on Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani, all of whom are closely related. Their network became one of the Taliban’s most lethal arms post-2001, infamous for bombings and attacks on significant targets such as embassies and government buildings, as well as criminal activities like extortion and kidnapping.
The move is seen as part of broader efforts to improve U.S.-Afghan relations. Zakir Jalaly, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, emphasized this improved relationship by referencing recent developments, including the release of a U.S. prisoner and the revocation of bounties. He noted these actions as evidence of a pragmatic and constructive approach to bilateral cooperation.
Shafi Azam, another official, acknowledged this as a step towards normalizing Afghanistan’s international presence, noting the Taliban’s newly asserted authority over the country’s embassy in Norway. Since regaining control, the Taliban remained largely isolated internationally, although some countries, notably China and Qatar, have engaged with Taliban representatives.
Despite these diplomatic strides, the Taliban’s controversial policies, particularly those targeting women and girls, have attracted global criticism. These actions contribute to the group’s pervasive international isolation.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, while part of the international sanctions list since 2007, has traveled with permission, visiting the UAE and Saudi Arabia under UN exemptions. These trips marked his first ventures abroad since the Taliban’s resurgence.
In the eyes of analysts like Ibraheem Bahiss from the International Crisis Group, the U.S.’s recent actions represent a strategic reward to Taliban factions more willing to engage internationally. The decision is seen as a diplomatic gesture, indicating that the U.S. is open to rewarding changes at a factional level, even if they haven’t resulted in national policy shifts.
This diplomatic gesture may pave the way for further engagement, even as the international community continues to pressure the Taliban on human rights issues, especially those affecting women and girls. Bahiss suggests that, while broader recognition of the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government remains distant, these small steps provide some hope for normalization and reduced isolation in the region.
For the Taliban, lifting sanctions carries more significance than international acknowledgment. Sanctions limit commerce and mobility, so their removal is considered a triumph. The reciprocal nature of this evolving diplomacy is mutually beneficial, as perceived by both the Taliban and Western entities.
In contrast to Sirajuddin Haqqani’s partial acceptance on the world stage, the Taliban’s overarching leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, remains under potential threat of international prosecution due to his oppressive policies towards women.
