FBI Drops $10M Bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani Amid US Talks

FBI removes $10M bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani amid US-Afghan talks, signaling possible diplomatic engagement. [Image via Tolo News]

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has removed the $10 million bounty on Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister of the Islamic Emirate.

A spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said the removal of the bounty from several officials of the caretaker government is a sign of progress in the Islamic Emirate’s foreign policy with the international community.

However, despite reports of the bounty being lifted, Sirajuddin Haqqani’s name still remains on the FBI’s wanted list.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated: “We witnessed some progress a few days ago when some elders and allies were removed from the reward list. This is progress that will continue in the future. These developments have regional and global impacts and present the Islamic Emirate as a responsible entity.”

The removal of the bounty coincides with the visit of the first official US delegation to Afghanistan in over three years. During this visit, an American citizen named George Glezman was released by the Islamic Emirate.

Some political analysts said the visit by the American delegation to Kabul, the release of the US citizen, and the removal of the bounty from the acting interior minister’s name, may indicate growing engagement between Kabul and Washington.

Also See: Afghanistan Urges UNAMA to Enhance Global Ties As UN Extends Mission

Zalmai AfghanYar, a political analyst, said: “In political agreements, interests are always at the center of discussion. When the FBI and Americans remove the bounty, I hope that confrontations will also end, and relations with Afghanistan will be built around the preservation of national interests.”

Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy, another political analyst, told TOLOnews: “Trump gave in to the realities in Afghanistan, and with this move, the removal of the bounty increases speculation that the US is shifting from confrontation to engagement, and this engagement could expand further.”

Previously, Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, welcomed the US decision to lift the bounty on Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani in an interview with Al Jazeera, calling it a political achievement.

This news is sourced from Tolo News and is intended for informational purposes only.

News Desk

Your trusted source for insightful journalism. Stay informed with our compelling coverage of global affairs, business, technology, and more.

Recent

A critical analysis of Drop Site News’ report alleging a UK–Pakistan “swap deal,” exposing its reliance on anonymous sources, partisan framing, and legally impossible claims.

Anonymous Sources, Big Claims, Thin Ground

A recent Drop Site News report claims a covert UK–Pakistan exchange of convicted sex offenders for political dissidents. But a closer look shows the story rests on hearsay, anonymous insiders, and a narrative shaped more by partisan loyalties than evidence. From misrepresenting legally declared propagandists as persecuted critics to ignoring the legal impossibility of such a swap, this report illustrates how modern journalism can slip into activism. When sensational claims outrun facts and legality, credibility collapses, and so does the line between holding power accountable and manufacturing a story.

Read More »
A sharp critique of Zabihullah Mujahid’s recent evasive remarks on the TTP, exposing Taliban hypocrisy and Afghan complicity in cross-border militancy.

Zabihullah Mujahid’s Bizarre Statement on TTP: A Lesson in Hypocrisy and Evasion

Zabihullah Mujahid’s recent statement dismissing the TTP as Pakistan’s “internal issue” and claiming Pashto lacks the word “terrorist” is a glaring act of evasion. By downplaying a UN-listed militant group hosted on Afghan soil, the Taliban spokesperson attempts to deflect responsibility, despite overwhelming evidence of TTP sanctuaries, leadership, and operations in Afghanistan. His remarks reveal not linguistic nuance, but calculated hypocrisy and political convenience.

Read More »
Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

Beyond the Rhetoric: What Muttaqi’s Address Reveals About Afghan Policy

Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s recent address sought to reframe Afghanistan’s strained ties with Pakistan through a narrative of victimhood and denial. From dismissing cross-border militancy to overstating economic resilience, his claims contradict on-ground realities and historical patterns. A closer examination reveals strategic deflection rather than accountability, with serious implications for regional peace and security.

Read More »
We Want Deliverance

We Want Deliverance

Political mobilization in South Asia is not rooted in policy or institutions but in a profound yearning for deliverance. From Modi’s civilizational aura in India to Imran Khan’s revolutionary moral narrative in Pakistan, voters seek not managers of the state but messianic figures who promise total transformation. This “Messiah Complex” fuels a cycle of charismatic rise, institutional erosion, and eventual democratic breakdown, a pattern embedded in the region’s political psychology and historical imagination.

Read More »