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Gunmen gun down 'chief financier' of Haqqani network in Islamabad

12 November, 2013

ISLAMABAD: The chief fundraiser of the Haqqani militant network – one of the most feared groups fighting US-led forces in Afghanistan – has been shot dead in the Pakistani capital, the Taliban said Monday.

Unidentified gunmen attacked Nasiruddin Haqqani, a son of the group's founder, on the edge of Islamabad on Sunday evening, the militants told AFP. The Haqqanis have been blamed for spectacular attacks on Afghan government and NATO targets across Afghanistan as well as for kidnappings and murders.

Eyewitnesses described attackers on motorbikes spraying Haqqani with automatic gunfire as he bought bread from a shop in Bhara Kahu on the northeastern edge of the city. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing, which comes just over a week after a US drone strike assassinated Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in North Waziristan Agency.

Washington holds the Haqqanis responsible for some of the most high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, including a 2011 siege of the US embassy and, in 2009, the deadliest attack on the CIA in 25 years. "I can confirm that Nasiruddin Haqqani, 36, was shot dead in Islamabad's Bhara Kahu area on Sunday night. At least four gunmen opened fire on him," a senior Afghan Taliban source from the Haqqani network told AFP.

Haqqani's body has been taken to Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, for burial, the source said. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban confirmed the death and vowed to take revenge, accusing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of killing him. "Nasiruddin Haqqani has been martyred by ISI," Shahidullah Shahid, the main spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told AFP.

"He was killed because he bravely supported Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud." Afghanistan's NDS spy agency also confirmed Haqqani's death but blamed it on an "internal conflict". It did not give further details.

The United States put the Haqqani network on its terror blacklist in September 2012 and the Pentagon said the group represented a "significant threat" to national security. The UN followed up with global sanctions on the network two months later, saying in its designation that the group was linked to al Qaeda, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and a string of militant groups in Pakistan including the TTP.

The Haqqanis have been a source of friction in US-Pakistan relations. The outgoing top US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, in 2011 called the group a "veritable arm" of the ISI.

End.

Reader Comments:

A STORY?

A story appeared on U.S. evening news yesterday in which investigative reporter "Brian Ross" reported that the Pentagon had been contracting out business to a few firms that had terrorist contacts.

One that was highlighted was a road construction firm in Afghanistan partially owned by Haqani interests and which had been responsible for funelling over 2.0 Million dollars to Haqani Network in last few years?

What's up with that....inquiring minds want to know?

AMERICAN WIND, United States - 12 November, 2013

CAN'T SAY I AM SORRY!

The fact that he was living in Islamabad and ISI wasn't aware of same is either very SCARY (or) very SCARY!!!(;.LOL

The Haqanis are double faced serpents who deal with both Afghan Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan as well as ISI.

They are ideologically empathetic to Al Qaeda and support the creation of a pan Islamic Kalipha state, they have been double dealing, and profiting from all their partners for decades.

Don't think CIA got him, not their style(motorcycle assassins with machine guns) a common method of assassination in region though by many terrorist groups, he(Haqani) could have run afoul of any of a number of players, even his own people, but my own personal money would be on ISI , I think they plugged him, along with the Army, who were just saying "hello" to those that have been slandering them and those that insult the families of mayrtered patriots of Army and Security Services!!

When TTP colaced through the efforts of Baitullah Mehsud and at the urging of Al Qaeda, the Haqanis were right there with him(Mehsud) and helped quell any fears (or) apprehensions expressed by Pashtun tribal leaders and elders in NWF and Waziristan. It was a great ruse and it worked.

After a number of months Musharraf sued for peace offering to host a tribal Jirga, the TTP agreed and then used the Jirga to identify tribal leaders and elders who supported a peace deal with Govt. The TTP then sabataged the Jirga and over the following months eliminated via murder and assassination over 120 indiginous Pakistani tribal leaders and elders who had expressed a desire to work with Govt. for a real peace deal.

Musharraf was enraged by the deception... the General is a career soldier and former Commando, he does not take giving your word lightly (or) with frivolity... he trusted the TTP and they "played him"....just like they will NAWAZ SHARIF!

AMERICAN WIND, United States - 12 November, 2013

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