Khalilzad: Haqqani network certainly knew about the presence of Al-Qaeda leader in Kabul
The former representative of the US in Afghanistan says that the Haqqani network certainly knew about the presence of the leader of Al-Qaeda in the heart of Kabul.
Zalmi Khalilzad, the former representative of the US in Afghanistan, said in an interview with American radio that the Haqqani network, which is one of the important elements of the Taliban, certainly knew about the presence of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Kabul, and probably some other elements of the Taliban also cooperated with the US in identifying Zawahiri’s location.
He said in this interview: “There is a high probability that some of the Taliban knew, but I am not sure that their leadership knew.” But it certainly seems that the Haqqani network, which is one of the important elements of the Taliban, knew.
Khalilzad also said in this interview that it is also possible that some elements of the Taliban did not know about the presence of the leader of Al-Qaeda in Kabul, because it is possible that there are differences among the elements of the Taliban.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, was killed on Sunday as a result of an American drone attack on his house in Kabul, and a day later, US President Joe Biden confirmed Zawahiri’s death in a speech.
