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| U.S. drone strike killed Taliban Leader Mullah Akhtar Monsour |
Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Monsour
was recently killed in a U.S. drone strike when he stopped for lunch in the
Pakistan province of Balochsta. U.S. intelligence agencies no doubt tracked him there
since he left Iran a few hours before and drove for hundreds of kilometers
along a deserted, dusty road. Monsour’s death epitomizes America’s shifting camaraderie with the Pakistan
government and the Taliban-Haqqani partnership that prolongs the unending war
in Afghanistan.
During his
reign as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, General David Petraeus believed
the Pakistan government would go after the Taliban and Haqqani Network, but he later
changed his stance. After analyzing incoming intelligence, Petraeus warned that
the U.S. needs to be cautious with Pakistan’s ability and willingness to topple
the Taliban leaders in Balochistan.
Monsour’s death in Baluchistan verifies
Petraeus’ warning was apposite. While Pakistan’s foreign ministry declared the
drone strike a violation of their sovereignty, the Taliban and Haqqni warriors from
Balochsta continue to slip across the nearby Afghanistan border and attack U.S.
coalition and Afghan forces.
In all fairness, Pakistan has confronted a
number of extremist organizations, including al Qaeda. But, the Taliban/Haqqani
network remains entrenched inside Pakistan.
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So, why does this network remain so powerful?
Why do they pursue their mission with such vigor without a robust retaliation from
the Pakistani government? The answer lies in their creation, which began in Afghanistan
during the mid-1970s when they were cultivated by the CIA and Pakistan’s ISI.
During the 1980s Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan, Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani lead the
group, which operated on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. U.S.
officials believe the network is actually based in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal
frontier region. Not surprisingly, the Haqqani Network grew interconnected with
the Taliban.
The Pentagon describes the Haqqani group as
"the most resilient enemy network" and one of the biggest threats to both
the U.S.-led coalition forces and the Afghan government.
The Haqqani family has an interesting
history. They hail from southeastern Afghanistan and belong to the Mezi clan of
the Zadran Pashtun tribe. Jalalludin Haqqani rose to prominence as a senior
military leader during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and was successful at
forging relationships with outsiders who were prepared to resist the Soviets,
including the CIA, Pakistan’s ISI, and wealthy Arab private donors from the
Persian Gulf. In the late 1980s, Jalalludin Haqqani had full support from the
CIA.
In 1994, foreign jihadists recognized the
network as a distinct entity. It was at a time when Haqqani was not affiliated
with the Taliban. His relationship with them blossomed when they captured Kabul
and assumed de facto control of the country. It was when the Taliban came to
power in 1996 and began their atrocities that Haqqani accepted a cabinet level
appointment as Minister of Tribal Affairs…the Taliban/Haqqani nexus was solidified.
After the U.S.-led invasion of
Afghanistan in 2001 and the subsequent overthrow of the Taliban government, the
Haqqanis fled into the Pakistani bordering tribal regions and regrouped to
fight against coalition forces from across the border.
As Jalaluddin grew older, his son Sirajuddin took over the
responsibility of military operations. Pakistani President Hamid Karzai invited
the elder Haqqani to serve as Prime Minister in an attempt to bring
"moderate" Taliban fighters into the government, but Jalaluddin refused
the offer.
Thus, the close connection between the Haqqani network and the Taliban was forged and continues
to flourish today. How influential was Jalaluddin Haqqani? There are documents
which support the claim that he had visited the White House during the
presidency of Ronald Reagan.
Should we celebrate last week’s drone
strike that blew Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour to bits on a lonely road
in Pakistan? Perhaps not, for the tight relationship that forged decades ago between
the Haqqani leaders and the Taliban may result in Sirajuddin Haqqani becoming Mansour’s
successor.
This most dangerous warlord has mastered
the art of asymetric warfare. His Haqqani network is considered the most lethal
and sophisticated insurgent group on record, conducting coordinated small-arms
ambushes in conjunction with rocket attacks, IEDs, suicide assaults and strikes
from bomb-laden vehicles.
If Sirajuddin Haqqani takes over, expect an
even more merciless assault on Afghan forces and the remaining U.S. and
coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Our Pick for Further Reading
Robert Morton, M.Ed., Ed.S. is a member of the Association Of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes the online spy series "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster in the Caribbean." Contact him on the Secure Contact Form
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