Haqqani Network and its Anti-India Stance: A Threat for India?

The Haqqani Network (H.N) is one of the most formidable insurgent group in Afghanistan and has steadily gained prominence over the years in Afghanistan and Pakistan. One of the strongest and most disciplined force in the Afghan insurgency, the Haqqani Network is an integral part of the Afghan Taliban. The network is responsible for curating and planning attacks on Afghan soil, has undertaken numerous kidnappings and has been involved in multiple criminal activities. The group since its inception has aimed to oust the foreign forces, restore Islamic emirates, and also has promoted transnational terrorist operations. The group derives its name from Jalaluddin Haqqani who fought in various wars with Soviet in Afghanistan along with CIA and ISI and NATO and US forces.

After his death, the leadership passed on to his son, Sirajuddin Haqqani who is a wanted criminal by and an UN-designated global terrorist since 2007. Sirajuddin has participated in financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, and perpetrating several criminal acts. He has been appointed as the head of Interior Ministry, one of the most important ministries on the newly appointed cabinet of the Taliban regime. Ministry of Interior Affairs is responsible for the law enforcement, civil order and fighting crime in the country. When he diplomatic presence is restored in the Afghan cities, all of them will fall under the direct watch of Sirajuddin led ministry. This has surely made India uncomfortable.

Sirajuddins's uncle - Khalil-Ur-Rehman Haqqani, too has found a place in the new cabinet as the Minster of Refugees. He too, is a listed terrorist and has had close links with the Al-Qaeda. Najibullah Haqqani, who will lead Ministry of Communications has been a minister in the previous Taliban government. He was initially a deputy minister for public works, a later as deputy minister of finance. Sheikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani was an associate of Jalaluddin Haqqani and is the new Minister of Higher Education. He is the only member of the Haqqani network who has not been designated a terrorist by UN but has been sanctioned by European Union.

Anas Haqqani, a member of the Haqqani Network in an Interview with WION in September said that India has been biased and has fuelled the war in Afghanistan for past 20 years. It has not done anything to install peace in the country and its role has negatively impacted Afghanistan. More so, its media and the government has highlighted Talibs negatively, something which is not welcomed by the Haqqani network as well as Taliban. This negative portrayal does not show the true friendship between the country and India needs to change its policy with Afghanistan.

Haqqani Network was responsible for Indian Embassy bombing in 2008 which killed a senior diplomat and military official and dozens of Afghan civilians. The Haqqani network has also been blamed for the deal of the Indian construction worked in 2009-12. More so, Haqqani Network group has been a loyal ally of ISI, which has always worked in collaboration for Pakistan. In past, friendly relationship between the democratic government of Afghanistan and India, was seen as an important factor in keeping Pakistan in check. But with Taliban government in power, Pakistan has emerged as a stronger player. When the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001, the Haqqani leaders took refuge in Pakistan's North Waziristan where they engaged in multiple legal and illegal money-making activities. The Haqqani network has also played a vital role in the revival of Taliban insurgency during the Hamid Karzai government via Pakistan routes. Therefore, Pakistan has often channelized its relations with the Haqqani network to carry out terrorist violence. Now that the Taliban (Haqqani has become a part of Taliban but it also has its own independent identity) has gained power in Afghanistan, the Haqqani network and its ally Pakistan can become stronger. India gains to lose from this as the Indo-Pak dispute continues to remain unsolved.

Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai, and Anas Haqqani, have emerged as the contact person for India. On the face, both the Haqqani representatives have said that they want they want friendly relations with India. However, through the internal discussions it has surfaced that the Kashmir issue is not on Taiban's agenda as they do not think that there is something to discuss about it. But at the same time, Taliban spokesperson, Suhail Shaheen in an interview said that they will raise the issue of Kashmir as its their right to raise voice for Kashmiri people. This creates doubts on the intentions of Taliban.

The Haqqani Network faction of Taliban has been enjoying direct support from Pakistan. and New Delhi considers it as an extension of Pakistan's spy service ISI. With the help of Haqqani network, Pakistan has been trying to stronghold its power withing Taliban and advancing its intentions in Afghanistan. Sources also reveal that Pakistan want important ministries of Taliban government to be given to members of Haqqani Network. The Haqqani Network has welcomed Pakistan's interference because it too wants to be the dominant group within the Taliban. Thus, Haqqani Network's anti-India stance is highly influenced by its relationship with Pakistan.

Given its interest in Afghanistan, Taliban is aware that India will not shun it completely. The Haqqani Network has taken advantage of this and are eagerly waiting to hear India’s conditions before making any decision. With all the countries talking about cooperating with Taliban currently, India cannot take the highway and do away with Taliban entirely, especially when China has joined hands with Taliban and Russia is on its way to do so. India is also worried that the cabinet is full of Haqqani hardliners and there are no moderates, especially members of Karzai and Ghani government. Hence, India is concerned that the Haqqani Network’s involvement in Taliban, might ruin the advances which it has made in Afghanistan, even if it is work cooperatively with an extremist group. India has pumped in US $ 3 billion in Afghanistan since 2001.

It is reported that Taliban has invited China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar to attend the government formation ceremony while U.S and India, deliberately have not been invited. Taliban has said that it wants to trade with India and wants to invite investments from Indian companies, it is yet to be seen whether it will actually happen, given the hardlines hold an anti-India stance. The Taliban regime seems pro-Pakistan and this has just added onto India's worry. It now depends on how well India can leverage its position in the talk and how Taliban and its hardliners respond to India. 

Pic Courtesy-Marko Beljan at unsplash.com

(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)