Taliban laughs off US blacklisting of Haqqani network

Statement released on Twitter says move indicative of complete US defeat.


Afp September 09, 2012

KABUL:


The Taliban denounced the US move to blacklist the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation on Saturday, saying it would have no impact on operations and was indicative of the US defeat in Afghanistan.


In a statement released through micro-blogging site Twitter, it said there was “no separate entity... in Afghanistan by the name of Haqqani”, adding that the network’s founder and its fighters were totally loyal to Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar.

The militia claimed previous terrorist designations against its members had no impact on operations and said “this latest announcement will also be ineffective”.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday she would press ahead with the Haqqani blacklisting, which will make it a crime in the United States to provide the network with any material support, and freeze any of their property or interests in the US.

The United States blamed the Haqqanis for a June hotel attack just outside Kabul, the 2011 siege on the US embassy and, in 2009, the deadliest attack on the CIA in 25 years.

“The Islamic Emirate does not have any trade agreements with any American companies or individuals and neither does it have monetary funds there which could be frozen,” the Taliban said. “This cowardly act of yours in which you enter mujahideen of Islamic Emirate into your so-called black list is indicative of your complete defeat and dismay.”

The statement further said that the blacklisting would strengthen its determination to fight the Americans.

Former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen said last year the Haqqani network had become a “veritable arm” of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. That triggered concern that the US could indirectly be branding Pakistan a terrorist state. But US officials downplayed such fears, insisting Islamabad had been informed in advance, and stressing the move would not hamper any future peace talks with the Taliban.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012. 

COMMENTS (11)

Abid Khan | 11 years ago | Reply

@Humaira: Very informative, thank you. But please also tell us what these jihadis are after, what are their goals? Are they reacting or pro-acting? Is there a way peace can be negotiated with them? How?

John B | 11 years ago | Reply

@Humaira: US analysts are not that dumb. Naming Haqqani reigns in all his loosely connected associates and "sympathizers" for prosecution in the court of law. It also reigns in PAK misadventures after 2014.

Haqqani is only a drone away.

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