Afghan Special Security Forces captured Omer Gul, a Haqqani attack facilitator, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Mar. 10, 2018. Following Gul’s arrest, the ASSF detained 13 additional suspected Haqqani fighters in possession of a multitude of explosives material in Qalandar district, Khowst province, Mar. 11.
Haqqani is a designated terrorist groups that plans coordinated operations against U.S. and Coalition forces, the ANDSF, and civilians. The Haqqani Network senior leadership resides outside of Afghanistan in external sanctuaries providing Afghan Taliban secure locations to rest, refit, and regenerate, thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban and Haqqani network are the greatest threats to security in Afghanistan,” stated NATO Resolute Support Commander Gen. John Nicholson in his Feb. 9 report to the Senate Armed Service Committee. “Their senior leaders remain insulated from pressure and enjoy freedom of action within Pakistan safe havens. As long as they enjoy external enablement, they have no incentive to reconcile. The primary factor that will enable our success is the elimination of external sanctuary and support to the insurgents.”