America cancels a $10 million reward for information on Haqqani.
A spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday, March 22, that the United States has canceled a financial reward that was designated for providing information leading to Sirajuddin Haqqani, one of the prominent leaders of the Taliban movement.
The announced reward was valued at $10 million. The names Yahya Haqqani and Abdul Aziz Haqqani were also removed from the rewards list, with a $5 million reward for the arrest of each.
According to the U.S. government's "Rewards for Justice" website, the removal of these rewards may be linked to the release of American prisoner Mark Frerichs. However, the FBI continues to offer the reward on its website, indicating that Sirajuddin Haqqani is believed to have been involved in coordinating cross-border attacks against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
On another note, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who serves as the acting Minister of Interior in the Taliban movement, reappeared after a 52-day absence, seen in a mosque in Khost city on Friday, March 14. However, the lack of recent photos of him at the Ministry of Interior raised questions about whether he has stepped down from his official duties.
In a related context, Mohammad Asif Sediqi, former deputy head of the Afghan Senate, pointed out escalating tensions between Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the "Haqqani Network" in recent months.
Sediqi stated in an interview with "Amo TV" that divisions within the movement have deepened, significantly reducing Haqqani's influence, making his resignation inevitable given the policies pursued by Akhundzada.
According to "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" newspaper, sources close to internal circles of the Taliban reported increasing friction between the Kandahar faction, which controls the movement's leadership, and the "Haqqani Network." These sources indicated that Sirajuddin Haqqani is increasingly frustrated by what he sees as a concentration of power in Akhundzada's hands, intensifying disagreements within the movement.
On the other hand, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied reports of serious internal divisions, stating that "differences in opinion are natural and do not indicate a major split" within the Taliban.
While Haqqani's public appearance in Khost suggests he has not disappeared from political life, his continued absence from the Ministry of Interior raises further questions about his position within the Taliban leadership structure.
