Haqqani Network: A Thorn to U.S. Policy

Haqqani Network: A Thorn to U.S. Policy

Introduction

Haqqani Network tends to extract its roots from the era of soviet aggression in Afghanistan, initially supported by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Haqqani Network stands to be founded by Maulvi Jallaluddin Haqqani, a known Pashtun tribal leader in the context of Afghan Politics. He indulged into arms resistance against the Soviet Union and thus quickly rose as a brilliant tactician. He stood as the favorites of CIA, hence CIA helped him to acquire stinger Missiles to be used against Soviet forces. However, scenario changed drastically when United States decided to attack Afghanistan in order to seek revenge of the 9/11 attacks and went into a war against terrorism. Haqqani Network tends to have close ties with Al-Qaida, and was the first group to introduce suicide bombings against the US-led NATO forces. However, many experts tend to believe that Haqqani Network shares close ties with the Intelligence agency of Pakistan known as Inter Services Intelligence. Inter Services Intelligence tends to be believed to help the group both financially and militarily. In the recent past, Haqqani Network attacked US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan on numerous occasions and has threatened to attack its bases inside and outside Afghanistan (Dreazen, 2011). Therefore, the American authorities believe that Haqqani Network is the principal obstacle in their way to succeed in Afghanistan. After the 9/11 attacks authorities did took some steps and introduced a bill in this regard known as Homeland Security Act 2002.

Discussion

Ideology

As per the believes, Haqqani Network tends to be associated with the ideology linked to its motherland Afghanistan. Haqqani network went into an armed struggle against the Soviet Union only when it attacked Afghanistan and Similarly United States. Thus, many who oppose the war against terrorism seems to justify the stance of Haqqani Network by citing the reasons such as that they the 'Haqqani Network' is only fighting to defend their land and United States should immediately pull out of the war against terrorism. Haqqani Network also tends to use religion and try to stitch Islam in their operations. Haqqani's use Religion as a motivating forces to inculcate new recruits and launch new attacks on the US-led NATO forces (Antonio, 2009). Haqqani Network stands as the pioneer of suicide Bombings against the US led NATO forces, religion tends to play the driving factor in this acts. The use of Religion 'Islam” in their case seems to be the vital tool which they tend to use in order to successfully carry out their operations.Structure

Like any other tribal arrangement Haqqani Network too is governed by the leaders within the family. Jallaluddin Haqqani serves as the pivot, whereas his sons Sirajuddin Haqqani and Badaruddin Haqqani tend to look after the operations of Haqqani Network. The Roots of Haqqani Network is so strong that they tend to run a shadow government with their shadow governors and representatives. Sangeen Zadran tends to be considered to be the Shadow governor of the Paktia province of Afghanistan and a senior lieutenant Sirajuddin ...