The Taliban regime of Afghanistan has revealed the face of their most elusive leader and interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. He is the chief of the UN designated terror out Haqqani Network (HN) and carries $ 10 million on his head.
Earlier the Taliban regime always released his blurred picture but Haqqani is no more reclusive. For the first time the Taliban, on Saturday, released pictures and video clips of the terror-tainted interior minister.
Haqqani was seen taking salutes and addressing at the graduation ceremony of officers in Kabul Police Academy.
In one picture, Sirajuddin Haqqani was seen sitting with his younger brother Anas Haqqani.
H.E Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani and Anas Haqqani. @AnasHaqqani313 #Peace pic.twitter.com/TdKIzgf1UP
— Muhammad Jalal (@MJalal313) March 5, 2022
In a video clip, the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul was seen standing at attention when Sirajuddin Haqqani got up to leave. He tried to speak to him but Haqqani walked away.
Watch Video :
#Pakistani Ambassador stands in attention when #Haqqani Network Chief terrorist and Interior Minister of #Taliban #sirajuddinhaqqani leaves. But #sirajuddinhaqqani ignores him and walks away. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/ywMNcDlKNb
— Mirza (@Mirza45994191) March 5, 2022
Interestingly, even after Haqqani became a part of the government in September 2021, the Taliban made every effort to keep him off any publicity material it released. In a series of pictures released in the last six months, Haqqani’s face was either seen hidden by bouquets or deliberately blurred.
Though the world has not recognised the Taliban regime, the change in Haqqani’s exposure to the public could be part of an attempt at seeking legitimacy for himself.
Also Read : Meet Sirajuddin Haqqani –Taliban’s most powerful minister who fears the camera
According to the Taliban spokesperson, Sirajuddin decided to reveal his face to correct his image which was wrongly projected by the western media.
“In his speech Khalifa (Sirajuddin Haqqani) talked about respecting the sovereignty of our country, relations with International community. He talked about the safety & security of Afghans and Afghanistan,” said his aide Muhammad Jalal.
There is considerable speculation about internal fights between the major factions within the Taliban. While the rival power contenders like the defence minister Mullah Yaqub and the deputy prime minister Mullah Baradar have been appearing in the media and projecting themselves as the moderate and responsible leaders, Haqqani’s supporters also decided to project their leader in a positive light.
According to Afghan journalists, there are few PR firms and social media influencers which are hired by Sirajuddin to portray his image to the world as a responsible leader of the regime. After all, the foreign dignitaries first go to meet Sirajuddin Haqqani before meeting the others.
Recently there was a proposal by the UN that it will pay Haqqani to safeguard the UN offices and facilities in Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry of the Taliban government is responsible for the internal security including the security of the UN and other foreign missions in Afghanistan.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the 48-year-old leader of the Haqqani Network (HN), has gained considerably from the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul last year. While Sirajuddin became the in charge of the powerful interior ministry, his close relatives including his paternal uncle Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani and other HN leaders like Najibullah Haqqani, Abdul Haq Wasiq, and Tajmir Jawad have also been allotted important ministries and posts. At least ten ministers, whose names figured in the first list of ministers announced by the Taliban last year, are close to the Haqqani Network.
