ISLAMABAD: A day after confirmation of the death of Taliban supremo Mullah Omar, conflicting reports have emerged about the death of Haqqani network founder Mullah Jalaluddin Haqqani.

Jalaluddin is claimed to have died months ago and has been buried within Afghanistan.

Jalaluddin was known to be seriously ill for the past many years. Recently leaked Saudi cables had revealed that arrangements were made for his travel to Saudi Arabia in 2012 for treatment. Jalaluddin Haqqani, a Saudi passport holder, had requested for treatment in the kingdom.

Media accounts claimed that Jalaluddin, who would have been 62 years old in 2012, was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, while another news report said he was a patient of lupus.

Some family members deny that Jalaluddin Haqqani has died

Jalaluddin had set up a base in North Waziristan following the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, under which he was the minister for border affairs.

He used his North Waziristan base to direct the Haqqani network’s operations. The group is accused of being behind some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan.

Another source, who said he had spoken to his family, quoted his relatives as having rejected the news.

The news emerged as Jalaluddin’s son Sirajuddin, who had been looking after the operational matters of Haqqani network, was named as one of the deputies to newly elected Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

Reuters adds: Two other family members insisted Jalaluddin was not dead.

“Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, no doubt, has become aged and suffering from different diseases but by the grace of Allah, he is safe and sound and alive,” a close family member said.

However, a third member of the family said the reports were true.

Haqqani “died of a brain haemorrhage a year and half ago. He is buried in the Zadran area of Khost province,” this person said.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2015

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