US Announces $5 million Award for Information on Top Haqqani Leaders

The United States has announced $5 million each for providing information on the location of top four members of the Pakistan-based Haqqani network. 

The State department is offering $5 million each for information leading to the location of Aziz Haqqani, Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, Yahya Haqqani and Abdul Rauf Zakir. For information regarding the group's leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, it has offered  $10 million, reports ANI News citing Dawn.

The offer comes under the State Department's Rewards for Justice Program.

The Haqqani network, a Taliban affiliated group, is also known to have links with al Qaeda. Having a strong base in North Waziristan in  Pakistan, the network is accused of conducting many cross-border attacks.

The 19-hour attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and the ISAF headquarters in September 2011 were conducted by the network.

The man who planned the attack on Kabul's Serena Hotel in 2008 is Sirajuddin haqqani, the son of Haqqani network founder Jalaluddin. A U.S. citizen and five others were killed in the attack. The U.S. government declared him as  a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2008,  reports The First Post. 

SIrajuddin's brother Aziz Haqqani carried out logistical operations and took major decisions regarding cross-border attacks on ISAF and Afghan forces.

Sirajuddin's uncle, Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, is a senior member of the network. He was in charge for raising funds for Taliban and is connected with al-Qaida operations.  

 The U.S. government designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2011, reports The First Post.

Yahya Haqqani serves as the leader of the network when other senior leader are absent and looks after the group's operational, financial and propaganda departments. He is also the brother-in-law of Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The network's chief of suicide operation is Abdul Rauf Zakir who also supervises the networks weapons training program, reports The First Post.