US Hasn't Forgiven Sirajuddin Haqqani, Says Former Diplomat

Ronald Neumann, the former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, believes that Washington has not forgiven Sirajuddin Haqqani, Taliban’s Minister of Interior, who has a 10-million bounty placed on him.

Neumann said that it’s likely that the US wants to take a forward-looking approach regarding Haqqani.

The Haqqani network, led by Taliban’s current interior minister, was responsible for deadly attacks during the war with the US and the Afghan government. In 2012, the US designated this network as a terrorist group.

Additionally, the US set a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Sirajuddin Haqqani. This reward is still listed on the US Department of Justice website.

However, the US agreed to Haqqani's travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In June, Haqqani was permitted to travel to the UAE to participate in a security and reconciliation meeting.

On Monday, Neumann told Afghanistan International that the US has not forgiven the Taliban’s interior minister, but the general perception in the US is to move forward.

The former US Ambassador to Afghanistan stated that Haqqani may not be moderate, but is more pragmatic compared to the Taliban in Kandahar.