Taliban’s Interior Minister To Meet US Security Officials In UAE

Two credible sources in Kabul told Afghanistan International that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior, will meet US security officials during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to the sources, the two parties will discuss their security concerns.

Yesterday, Sirajuddin Haqqani embarked on his first foreign trip to the UAE and met with the President of the country.

Haqqani is the head of the Haqqani Network, and the Taliban refer to him as the “Conqueror of Kabul”. Given Haqqani’s position within the Taliban administration, his role is becoming increasingly significant over time.

Unresolved Issues Between the Taliban and the US

It is expected that the Taliban’s Minister of Interior will discuss important unresolved issues between the Taliban and Washington during his meeting with US officials.

Blacklist

The Taliban confirmed that the names of over 20 of their officials remain on the US blacklist. Since the Taliban’s return to power, not only have these names not been removed, but additional Taliban officials have been added to the list.

Over-the-Horizon Operations

Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, American drones have continued to patrol Afghan skies. Taliban officials have stated that Afghanistan’s airspace is “occupied by the US,” and they consider the continued drone patrols as an act of American coercion.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, recently admitted that the group lacks the capability to stop these patrols.

Prisoners

The US confirmed that two of its citizens are imprisoned by the Taliban. One of these prisoners is Ryan Corbett, who was arrested in August 2022. The identity of the second individual remains unknown.

The Taliban have confirmed that 16 foreign nationals are imprisoned by their group.

$10 Million Bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani

In 2012, the US designated the Haqqani Network as a terrorist group.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considers Sirajuddin Haqqani an international terrorist and initially offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. After the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, this reward was increased to $10 million. This bounty has not been revoked.

Girls’ Schools and Women’s Rights

The US has called for the reopening of girls’ schools and improvements in human rights under Taliban rule, but the group has ignored these demands from the US and the international community for nearly three years.

Taliban’s Relationship with Al-Qaeda

Severing ties with Al-Qaeda is a key element of the Doha Agreement. However, the United Nations Security Council states that the Taliban still maintains a relationship with Al-Qaeda.

According to reports, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al-Qaeda leader killed in a US airstrike in Kabul, was living in Sirajuddin Haqqani’s guesthouse.

Afghanistan International shared this information with Taliban officials, but they neither confirmed nor denied it.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, said that Sirajuddin Haqqani discussed strengthening relations between Afghanistan and the UAE, and securing cooperation in health and construction for the Taliban’s security institutions during his meeting with UAE officials.

On Wednesday, the Taliban spokesperson wrote that UAE officials had agreed to release Afghan prisoners from their jails.

Visa issuance for Afghans and digitisation

Afghanistan’s traffic system were other topics discussed by the Taliban and UAE officials.

The Taliban spokesperson stated that the UAE will participate in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, and investment companies from the UAE will invest in Afghanistan.