New York: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, met Sirajuddin Haqqani, an official in the Taliban government, at the Qasr Al Shati palace in the Emirati capital, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister who also heads the Haqqani network, is sought by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults and carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head.
WAM, as per an AP report, also published an image of the Emirati leader shaking hands with and said: “The two sides discussed strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance ties to serve mutual interests and contribute to regional stability. The discussions focused on economic and development fields, as well as support for reconstruction and development in Afghanistan”.
The Haqqani network, one of the deadliest arms of the Taliban, carried out suicide bombings and has been linked to extortion, kidnapping, and other criminal activity.
According to the FBI, "Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen".
He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against the US and coalition forces in Afghanistan and was also allegedly involved in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008, the FBI said.
