Two senior leaders of the Haqqani network have been arrested by Afghan security forces; a further blow to the Pakistan-based militant group blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, says expert Omar Hamid.
Anas Haqqani (left), the son of the network's founder, and Hafiz Rashid (right), who was in charge of selecting targets and providing equipment for suicide bombers, were detained on October 14 in a special operation, according to the Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS). "It is one of the biggest and most important arrests by NDS, and has strategic impact on this network and can cause disorder in its operations and weaken its fighting capabilities," the statement said.
The NDS added that Anas Haqqani was an expert in computers and the use of propaganda through social networks and was responsible for collecting and preparing funds from Arabic countries to carry out operations. He was reportedly also a special adviser to his brother and network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani.
The al Qaeda linked network, which mainly operates out of Pakistan's border areas, has been blamed several deadly attacks in the region including assaults on hotels popular with foreigners in Kabul, a bloody bombing of the Indian embassy and a 2011 attack on the US embassy.
Omar Hamid, Head of Asia Pacific Country Risk at IHS, says that while the capture of the two leaders as a laudable act for the Afghan security forces, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to resist against sustained attacks by the Taliban.
DW: What impact is the capture of the two senior leaders likely to have on the militant network?
Omar Hamid: In the past couple of years, the Haqqanis suffered the losses of key leadership figures as a result of unmanned aerial vehicle strikes and assassinations within Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have immeasurably weakened the group.
The capture of two more key members by the Afghan security forces will only further weaken the group.
What does the capture of these militants say about the ability of the Afghan security forces?
While the work of the Afghan security forces in arresting these militants has been laudable, there remains a major question of their ability to resist against sustained attacks by the Taliban, as their performance in this regard has been undoubtedly mixed.
Who is the Haqqani network?
The Haqqani Network is a group affiliated with, but not directly under, the Afghan Taliban. The Haqqanis area of operations is a cluster of eastern provinces, like Khost, Paktia, Paktika and Kunar. The Afghan government has long alleged that the Haqqani network has often carried out operations in Afghanistan, and especially in Kabul, at the behest of Pakistan's intelligence agencies, with whom they are alleged to have a long standing relationship.
In which areas is the organization mainly active and what kind of support does it enjoy among the local population?
Due to their position, the Haqqanis have often acted as go betweens and mediators between different militant groups, including the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, and core Al Qaeda.But the Haqqanis primary interest has always been personal, and limited to control over narcotics, smuggling and cargo moving within the provinces controlled by them.
What measures should the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan take to eliminate the group from their territories?
It won't be easy to eliminate the group for two main reasons: first, the Afghan government has a very low degree of control over the areas occupied by the militants. Second, given the fundamental misunderstandings and misgivings between Islamabad and Kabul, cooperation between the two governments on this issue is unlikely. However, a concerted effort is essential if the militant network is to be eliminated anytime soon.
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