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Pakistani Media: Founder Of Militant Haqqani Militant Died 'A Year Ago'


Pakistani militant Jalaluddin Haqqani (file photo)
Pakistani militant Jalaluddin Haqqani (file photo)

Pakistani media are quoting unnamed Taliban sources as saying that Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the militant Haqqani network, has been dead for almost a year.

Jalaluddin Haqqani died of natural causes and was buried in the province of Khost, Afghanistan, Geo TV and dawn.com reported on July 31.

The Taliban-linked Haqqani network is an Islamist militant group operating on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border.

The network was founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani to fight Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

The movement's current leader, Jalaluddin's son Sirajuddin Haqqani, is one of the United States' most wanted men, with a $10 million bounty out for his capture.

The reports of Jalaluddin Haqqani's death come a day after the Afghan Taliban confirmed the death of its leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, saying he died "some time ago due to an illness."

Pakistan announced on July 30 that peace talks scheduled for July 31 between Afghan government negotiators and Taliban representatives have been postponed due to reports of Mullah Omar's death.

Based on reporting by dawnnews.com, Geo TV, and the BBC

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