WASHINGTON: Senior US Administration officials, talking to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Janbaz Zadran aka Jamil, a Haqqani network leader, was killed in Miranshah, North Waziristan earlier on Thursday.
Although US officials did not specify the circumstances around Zadran’s death, a drone strike earlier on Thursday in Miranshah corresponds with the confirmation.
(Read: US drones strike in North, South Waziristan)
The US official said that “Janbaz played a central role in helping the Haqqani network attack US and coalition targets in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan."
According to US officials, he was the most senior leader in the Haqqani network that was 'taken off the battlefield'.
Another senior US official told The Express Tribune that “Janbaz played key roles in resupplying the Haqqani network, and in ensuring that militants in Afghanistan had access to the Miranshah-based leadership.”
Relations between Pakistan and the US went through another rough patch after the now retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen accused the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of maintaining links with the Haqqani network.
Earlier this week, the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that the relationship with Pakistan is different for a number of reasons, "We are fighting a war in their country".
(Read: Situation in Pakistan to remain volatile: Panetta)
COMMENTS (9)
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@Ghaznavi: Yeah. They got their IDs. Does that make the simple mind a happy one?
Another job well done!
How doe they know?? They kill innocent civilians by branding them terrorists; did they get their IDs before firing the missiles??
@Sad but true: You are onto something here. Of course after the US pressure, the ground intelligence from Pakistani sources gets better. This is what all the fuss is about. The US wants the whereabouts of all top terrorists and Pakistanis do not provided them despite getting billions.
neutralized. Will FO protest violation of soveiginity ?
Am I naïve to think that after USA threatens Pakistan, so many senior Haqqani leaders are just found killed in the last two weeks. Is someone AGAIN changing its face?
Great!
Now US can claim the victory in Afghanistan and let the troops come back home and end this perpetual war which is nothing but a drag on economy.
Wonder if someone from the Pak establishment is going to send their condolences to Haqqani 'Sahib'.
Good job U.S.