December 27, 2001	Thursday	Shawwal 11, 1422

ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: A prominent figure in Afghanistan’s collapsed government who has not been seen for weeks, Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, was wounded by US bombing last month, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) said on Wednesday.

The agency quoted sources in Miranshah as saying Haqqani, the Taliban’s tribal affairs minister, was moved to an unknown location after the Nov 16 bombing in the eastern Khost district that killed 62 people, including five of his bodyguards.

“Since then, Haqqani has not been seen anywhere leading to fears he may have succumbed to his injuries,” the agency said.

But, quoting sources in the area, it said it was difficult to say whether Haqqani was among the many people killed by the US bombing.—Reuters