28 Facts About Jalaluddin Haqqani

1. Jalaluddin Haqqani joined the Hezb-i Islami Khalis in 1978 and becoming a mujahid in Afghanistan.

2. Jalaluddin Haqqani speaks fluent Arabic and one of his two wives is from the United Arab Emirates10 —assets that have helped him raise a great deal of money from Saudi Arabia and individuals in the Persian Gulf.

3. Jalaluddin Haqqani is believed to be influenced by radical Islamist principles drawn from the early Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, which were prevalent among many of the religiously-motivated Afghan mujahideen of that time.

4. Jalaluddin Haqqani is the commander, with son Sirajuddin, of the Haqqani network, which is believed to be based in Waziristan, Pakistan.

5. Jalaluddin Haqqani retains considerable local popularity on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and he is the most experienced Islamist leader in the region.

6. Jalaluddin Haqqani was the commander, with son Sirajuddin, of the Haqqani network, which is believed to be based in Waziristan, Pakistan.

7. Jalaluddin Haqqani refused their offers on the grounds that, as a Muslim, he was duty-bound to resist them, as "infidel invaders" just as he had the Soviets in earlier decades.

8. Jalaluddin Haqqani was a key US and Pakistani ally in resisting the Soviet-backed Afghanistan.

9. Jalaluddin Haqqani was an ethnic Pashtun from the Zadran tribe of Khost.

10. Jalaluddin Haqqani distinguished himself as an internationally sponsored insurgent fighter in the 1980s during the Soviet–Afghan War, including Operation Magistral.

11. Jalaluddin Haqqani eventually relinquished his leadership role, passing authority to his son and ideological heir, Sirajuddin.

12. Jalaluddin Haqqani remained loyal to his Arab comrades, declaring jihad on the Americans.

13. Jalaluddin Haqqani became a close friend of Osama bin Laden, who would go on to lead al-Qaeda, and remained one of his most steadfast allies.

14. Jalaluddin Haqqani was among 10 mujahedin commanders who received funds directly from the CIA; money to others was funneled through Pakistan.

15. Jalaluddin Haqqani is fluent in Persian, [45] Arabic, [46] Urdu and his native Pashto language.

16. Jalaluddin Haqqani has very long and intimate roots, and a long history with bin Laden personally.

17. Jalaluddin Haqqani … was a very important figure in the 1980s.

18. Jalaluddin Haqqani has had a long history with Saudi, American and Pakistani intelligence agencies.

19. Jalaluddin Haqqani is in the Taliban administration serving as "Acting Minister of Borders", and is known as a "key" official "with links to Arab militants.

20. Jalaluddin Haqqani protected Osama bin Laden, and even helped him to establish a fighting force in Afghanistan.

21. Jalaluddin Haqqani is close with Osama bin Laden and has had a long relationship with him that goes back to the Afghan-Soviet war.

22. Jalaluddin Haqqani is one of the most important Taliban military commanders fighting against the Afghan government, and US forces in Afghanistan.

23. Jalaluddin Haqqani was a significant figure in Afghanistan and had close ties to both the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

24. Jalaluddin Haqqani was fluent in Persian, Arabic, Urdu and his native Pashto language.

25. In October 2001, Jalaluddin Haqqani was named the Taliban's military commander.

26. Jalaluddin Haqqani was not originally a member of the Taliban; in 1995, just prior to the Taliban's occupation of Kabul, he switched his allegiance to them.

27. At that time, Jalaluddin Haqqani helped and protected Osama bin Laden, who was building his own militia to fight Soviet-backed Afghanistan.

28. Jalaluddin Haqqani was one of them, and after being suspected of plotting against the government he went into exile and based himself in and around Miranshah, Pakistan.