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At Large
Kings of the Mountains
An obscure little mountain clan is quickly becoming the most powerful anti-government force in Afghanistan.
The rise to importance of the Haqqani is a story of over 35 years of struggle, first to grow from a minor Pashtun clan of the Zadran tribe to what it is today — the most powerful anti-government grouping in Afghanistan. It would be simple to place this network into the overall structure of the Taliban, but that would be an injustice to the Haqqani. They are at once a part of the Taliban and at the same time separate from Mullah Omar’s movement. This dichotomy has been explained by the philosophical motivation of the Haqqani that is focused primarily on ridding Afghanistan of foreign interference as opposed to the broader Islamic jihadi commitment of Omar’s Taliban. One does not rule out the other, but simply has precedence.
The Haqqani network, as it is often called, is suggested to have originated from its collaboration with and support by American intelligence during the Soviet/Afghan conflict of the 1980s. Upon the vigorous urging of the U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson, Washington did give financial and material aid to Jalaluddin Haqqani’s fighting group, but that was after operatives of Pakistan’s intelligence service, ISI, paved the way. In fact, very little was done by the Americans with the mujahedin without initial ISI-related introduction and/or monitoring. If this activity is regarded from a Pakistani viewpoint, the Americans actually were ISI’s rich uncle who was allowed to think he was running unilateral operations with Afghan fighters, including those associated with the Haqqani clan and their Zadran tribal cousins. This history remains a point of contention.
The ambition of Mawlawi Jalaluddin Haqqani to be a part of the ruling group in Afghanistan actually began as a young man in his middle twenties when he was forced to flee Kabul for Miranshah in his home region of North Waziristan after reportedly being sought for arrest by President Daoud Khan’s central government forces. During 1975-1978 Jalaluddin joined the group Hezb-I-Islami of the fundamentalist Mohammad Yunis Khalis.
During the 1980s Haqqani gained (or created) a reputation as a skilled fighter. It was at this time that he came to understand the value of the use of political propaganda that later has come to serve the Haqqani so well. By 1992 Jalaluddin acted as Justice minister in the new government in Kabul. By 1996 he was named Minister for Tribal (aka Border) Affairs by the Taliban government.
The idea that Jalaluddin was an obscure tribal personality as characterized by the Western press is quite false — a fact well known by British and American intelligence and certainly Pakistan’s ISI. Known also, though not well understood, is that the Haqqani family never was interested in becoming just one element of Mullah Omar’s primarily Pashtun tribal confederacy known as the Taliban. Jalaluddin has held himself aloof from the Islamic jihadi theme of Omar’s governmental objectives, though since early on he had a good relationship with bin Laden and al Qaeda. The Haqqani have drawn closer to the Taliban leadership recently, but that was a political move from strength rather than an acceptance of Mullah Omar’s authority.
The head of the Haqqani clan is only in his early sixties, but is often referred to as “elderly” and even “sickly.” In Afghan political terms this suggests he no longer exerts the power he once did. In fact he may have more power than before, though his personal, hands-on, direction may be less. His sons Khalifa Seraj (Serajuddin) and Badruddin apparently have assumed operational leadership, though the Haqqani organization utilizes regional command structures coordinated by several dozen clan members and longtime Zadran tribal followers of the Haqqani family. It was some of these extended family representatives with whom the United States was in contact before the attack on the American Embassy in Kabul. This limited liaison did not stop the attack. In a fit of pique afterwards, the American Secretary of State decided she should divulge this highly classified intelligence contact. Why?
There is some dispute as to which of the two senior Haqqani brothers has greater operational command. Michael Semple, recognized as one of the few authorities on Pashtun tribal alignments and a 20-year veteran of Afghan politics, wrote in Foreign Affairs in September that the eldest son, Sarajuddin, is the new “senior decision-maker” while Badruddin was “most closely involved in the embassy siege and seems to be more active and accessible.” This analysis is consistent with the broader perception that the Haqqani extended family now has expanded to become a major insurgent movement on its own.
The key to the Haqqani dominance is their ability to attract external fighters and material support. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen was outraged to learn the ISI continued close contact with Jalaluddin and his sons, to say nothing of Pakistani Army operational relationship with Haqqani field units in the Pakistan tribal area of Waziristan. What else did he expect? This is South Asia after all. Afghanistan is part of Pakistan’s neighborhood. Obviously Admiral Mullen had no idea of how the great game is played in this neighborhood.
As part of a dose of reality, it would be worthwhile for the Obama Administration to recognize that Jalaluddin Haqqani is aimed at ousting Hamid Karzai and eventually setting up a new government in Kabul, perhaps with a Haqqani at the top. The ISI knows this and is prepared to deal with that eventuality. The only question is whether the Haqqani complex of affiliated Pashtun of Waziristan wants to expose itself by assuming central political responsibility. The alternative is to become an essentially autonomous power controlling both North and South Waziristan and neighboring provinces while maintaining a separate and special relationship with Pakistan.
For reasons still best known to the sheikhs of the Gulf, the Haqqani in general, and Jalaluddin specifically, have a long-term relationship with the Saudis and the Emirates. Perhaps it’s the mutual pragmatism; perhaps it’s left over from the war with the Soviets. In any case, the Haqqani, obscure little clan of the Zadran tribe of North Waziristan, looks like the best bet at the moment as the dominant force in Afghan politics — and war.
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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Pecos Pete| 11.11.11 @ 10:11AM
The mid-east, India and Asia, in general, are geographic areas that Americans and Europeans will never understand.
Read Robert Lacy's "The Kingdom, Arabia & The House of Sa'ud" (published 1981) for a truly enlightening history of the area even though focused on Sa'udi Arabia.
Pzkfw| 11.11.11 @ 10:41AM
Gotta say. I start reading these articles and my head starts spinning with the who pissed off who/when/where/why and then ask myself why should we care?
The US has bled sorely to bring these primitives into the 20th century and if after all this time they can't maintain themselves, so be it. If the "people" of Afcrapistan won't defend themselves against the Taliban AGAIN, they get what they deserve.
edo| 11.11.11 @ 10:47AM
Interesting to read about the Haqqani. Ostensibly to clear-out Al-Qaeda training camps, the U.S. became an occupying force in Afghanistan. The Haqqani and the Taliban -- however barbaric they may be to Western tastes -- are patriots working to expel the invaders. If Afghanistan had the advantages of great oil wealth, NATO would have launched a Libyan-style bombing campaign long ago to save the country from itself.
Chalkdust| 11.11.11 @ 12:00PM
Mr. Wittman....Your article could be the best footnoted, researched and sourced piece in a decade...but few would know. Not that we haven't tried over the last ten years to understand the players in the region, but it appears that it is a life time job to correctly pigeon-hole combatants.
What we do know for absolute certain is the USA could have vacated the region after what.....six or seven months? At least as soon as the Taliban (sic) was defeated and bombed back to the stone-age (ha) by our special ops men.
All that blood and treasure wasted for what.....nation building? Who can we hang for this traitorous waste of our military? Is it the American public who voted in stupid people, who appointed more stupid people or is it congress who approved the appointment of more stupid people. I mean the Irish fought each other for 800 years over stupid concepts which in the end which didn't amount to a hill of beans. The Afghans have been at in longer and by what means did the stupid people we elected, appointed and otherwise gave good money too, think they could change all that? We avenged 9/11....it's mission complete.
cicero| 11.11.11 @ 2:18PM
Maybe this will teach us something. (I certainly hope so.) When we are attacked, we should find the culprits, punish them and whoever sponsored or aided them, so as to make a very graffic example why no one should do that again, and leave. No billions to fix up the mess we leave. No nation building. Just overwhelming punishment. If the citizens of the offending areas feel bad about what we did, maybe thay will insure not to let their leaders do such things again.
Chalkdust| 11.11.11 @ 5:35PM
This is what I'm saying.
axbucxdu| 11.12.11 @ 10:40PM
The best part is we wouldn't need the expense of supporting the current military infrastructure (along with its attendant supplicants) to act on this type of policy. Imagine the freedom to act alone, with extreme prejudice, and best of all, without apology. How refreshing.
ABNCP| 11.11.11 @ 3:44PM
Cicero, I am in complete agreement. These stone age people will never in our lifetime be any different than they are now. If they are involved in doing harm to this country, we have the technology to make them pay a price they will not want to repeat. What with the advent of strike UAV's and fire and forget weapons etc. we have the capability to do so much damage to any group of hostiles, they will no longer want to pay the price for those actions against us. Never commit U.S. forces into these backward countries again.
Tiddly| 11.11.11 @ 9:30PM
Nothing in that godforsaken country is worth a single American life. What the hell are we still doing there, now that the Taliban has been taught a lesson and Bin Ladin is dead? As for humanitarian work, nothing we do for those savages is appreciated, and the moment we leave it will all be undone. Stop the waste of money and precious American lives right now--there is no longer a point to any of it.
Leveut| 11.11.11 @ 10:31PM
"Obviously Admiral Mullen had no idea of how the great game is played in this neighborhood."
Ten words too far.
Richard Baker| 11.11.11 @ 10:53PM
I really wish that we could just tell the Moslems to keep their oil and eat it or whatever, safeguard Israel, and let these Koranic Krazies kill one another over who's a more proper Moslem. Sunni live to kill Shia who live to kill Wahabbi who hate Sufi and so on. I'd recommend one and all read Winston Churchill's 1899 thoughts on "Mohammedism." Nothing has changed and remember that in 1899 Israel was only a gleam in Chaim Weizmann's eye.
MOS 1 1 2 | 11.12.11 @ 12:00AM
Agree completely with every previous commentator. Bring or guys home. We accomplished our mission eight years ago. Why take endless casualties to protect a corrupt government. If our D.C. elite had their sons over there.....oh well, that's the point, they don't have that kind of stake in the war. Name the elected or appointed officials[outside the Pentagon]who have children in combat areas. You could probably name them on one hand.
Tenn Slim| 11.12.11 @ 10:01AM
If one wants an Mid East Migraine, follow the articles intricacies ad nauseum. True enough, spot on accurate, but indicative of the Gordians Knot of the area.
We cannot leave, and we should not divulge Intelligence contacts, yet the perils remain.
Semper Fi
Richard Baker| 11.13.11 @ 12:42AM
MOS112:
Since the furball in the White House is trying his best (worst?) to destroy our internal energy sources, we're stuck with the Arabs. Until we send him and his lackeys packing, we'll have to be in the Middle East because this country needs energy. Wish that weren't so but there it is.
wedding dresses | 11.14.11 @ 3:07AM
The US has bled sorely to bring these primitives into the 20th century and if after all this time they can't maintain themselves, so be it. If the "people" of Afcrapistan won't defend themselves against the Taliban AGAIN, they get what they deserve