US Removes Bounties on Senior Taliban Officials, Including Sirajuddin Haqqani

The United States has officially removed bounties on three senior Taliban leaders, including Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, marking a shift in U.S.-Taliban relations. The decision was confirmed by Afghan officials on Sunday.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani network and a key Taliban figure, was previously wanted for his involvement in deadly attacks, including the 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel bombing. However, his name no longer appears on the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice list, though the FBI website still features a wanted poster for him.

According to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, the U.S. government has also lifted bounties on Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani, both linked to the powerful Haqqani network.

The Haqqani network, once one of the deadliest factions within the Taliban, has been accused of orchestrating attacks on embassies, government buildings, and foreign nationals, as well as engaging in extortion and kidnappings.

A Foreign Ministry official, Zakir Jalaly, stated that this move, coupled with the Taliban’s recent release of American prisoner George Glezmann, signifies progress in U.S.-Taliban relations. Jalaly emphasized that both sides are “moving beyond the wartime phase” and taking steps toward diplomatic engagement.

Another official, Shafi Azam, called the decision “a step toward normalization in 2025”, referencing the Taliban’s claim of control over Afghanistan’s embassy in Norway.

Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, few countries have recognized its government. However, China has accepted a Taliban diplomat, while nations like Qatar have facilitated indirect engagements between the U.S. and the Taliban.