Agencies KABUL

The US has removed a $10 million bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's Interior Minister, and two other senior Taliban figures, according to officials in Kabul. This move, following the Taliban's release of an American prisoner, signals a potential shift in US-Taliban relations.  

Haqqani, known for orchestrating deadly attacks, including the 2008 Serena Hotel assault, is no longer listed on the State Department's Rewards for Justice website, though an FBI wanted poster remains. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani confirmed the removal of bounties on Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani, all related.   "The trio is related,” Qani told the Associated Press

The Haqqani network, a powerful Taliban faction, utilized tactics like roadside bombs and suicide attacks, targeting embassies and government buildings. They were also implicated in extortion and kidnappings.   Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalaly cited the prisoner release and bounty removal as steps towards improved relations, suggesting a transition "beyond the effects of the wartime phase". Another official, Shafi Azam, anticipated normalization by 2025, noting the Taliban's control of Afghanistan's embassy in Norway. 

Since the Taliban's 2021 takeover, China has recognized their diplomats, while others, like Qatar, have facilitated US-Taliban mediation. US envoys have also engaged with the Taliban.  Haqqani has previously voiced concerns about the Taliban's governance. His international rehabilitation contrasts sharply with the situation of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who faces potential International Criminal Court prosecution for the persecution of women.