The Afghan intelligence authorities on Sunday confirmed the killing of Badarud Din Haqqani, son of the founder of Haqqani network, in a recent US drone strike, but the Taliban claimed Badar was alive and well in Afghanistan.
Afghan intelligence agency spokesman Shafiqullah Tahiri said Badar had been killed in a drone strike in Pakistan, although there was no clear comment on whether the body had been seen. But denying the recent projected death of Badar, Taliban spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid earlier declared Badar to be in good health and alive. Pakistani intelligence sources had also expressed their 90 percent surety that the Taliban leader had been killed in the American drone attack, a fact that could not be verified since his body had not been sighted. America ranks the Haqqani Network as its number one enemy in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid termed the rumors about Badar’s death an unsuccessful ploy by the enemy to create chaos and confusion among Taliban elements. He said that Badar was actively engaged in performing his war duties.
