The United States has lifted multimillion-dollar bounties on three senior Taliban officials, marking a significant shift in policy by the Trump administration. Afghan authorities and a senior American official confirmed this development, which pertains to key figures from the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
This decision follows a visit to Kabul by U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler, the first by a high-ranking American diplomat since the Taliban took power in 2021. Boehler's discussions with Taliban representatives resulted in the release of an American citizen who had been detained in Afghanistan for over two years.
Many Taliban officials interpreted the meeting and the removal of the bounties as a substantial victory for their government, which had been largely isolated by the U.S. during the Biden administration. This shift may also provide momentum for less hard-line voices within the Taliban, who are advocating for a moderation of their policies to gain broader international acceptance.
The U.S. previously offered $20 million for information on three leaders of the Haqqani network, recognized as the deadliest faction of the Taliban during the two-decade conflict. This network is the only segment of the Taliban designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Taliban interior minister, is among the three leaders whose bounties were lifted.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, along with his brother Abdul Azizi Haqqani and cousin Yahya Haqqani, has been removed from the State Department’s Rewards for Justice website, with the bounty for Sirajuddin Haqqani also taken down from the F.B.I.’s wanted poster.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, stated that a deal with the U.S. was finalized to lift the bounties after multiple discussions with American officials. He referred to this development as a major achievement for the Taliban government.
An anonymous American official confirmed the bounty removals, noting the sensitive nature of the diplomatic discussions. The Trump administration has indicated that bounties could be reinstated if additional Americans detained in Afghanistan are not released.
The recent talks in Kabul followed a period of tense interactions between the Trump administration and the Taliban. In January, President Trump demanded the return of $7 billion in U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan and threatened to cut off financial aid if it was not returned, a demand the Taliban rejected, citing the equipment's importance in combating the Islamic State affiliate in the region.
Since the Taliban regained control, the U.S. has actively sought to isolate their government, which has implemented severe restrictions on women. Biden administration officials have emphasized that sanctions will not be eased until those restrictions are lifted.
While no country officially recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, many nations in the region and Europe are beginning to engage with them on issues of mutual interest.
Experts have noted that the Taliban is increasingly engaging in transactional diplomacy. The lifting of U.S. bounties suggests a possible reciprocal arrangement tied to the release of the American hostage.
This policy shift represents a notable change regarding Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has been associated with some of the bloodiest attacks during the U.S.-led war, including a 19-hour assault on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul in 2011 and a 2017 truck bombing that resulted in over 150 civilian deaths.
In recent years, Haqqani has attempted to reshape his image and engage with the West, seeking international support as he navigates internal negotiations within the Taliban concerning controversial policies like those affecting women.
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has previously sought arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over their severe persecution of women and girls.
The lifting of the bounties is seen as a victory for more moderate factions within the Taliban, providing them with leverage to advocate for compromises in their governance approach.