In an article by Krishnadev Calamur published in the Atlantic after the Taliban announced his death in 2018 Jalaluddin Haqqanni was described as a “murderous thug…but that those who knew him respected him as a true scholar-warrior, a rareity among militants operating in Afghanistan.” The article also notes “for many Afghans, the word Haqqanni invokes fear and horror.”

Haqqanni gained notoriety for founding the Haqqanni Network, which has been labeled as terrorist organization by the United States government. He was also key player in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Seth Jones notes in his book In the Graveyard of Empires that Soviet intelligence described Haqqanni as a “cruel and uncompromising person.”

In Ghost Wars Steve Coll notes: “Haqqanni emerged in the late 1980s as the ISI’s main anticommunist battering ram around Khost. Celebrated as kind of a noble savage by slack-bellied preachers in Saudi Arabia’s wealthy urban mosques, Haqqanni became a militant folk hero to Wahhabi activists.”

Haqqanni was able to develop deep ties with the CIA and the Pakistan intelligence service ISI. He was viewed as a prized asset of the CIA.

Steve Coll notes in Directorate S that “The Haqqani’s did more than any other commander network in Afghanistan to nurture and support Arab volunteer fighters, seeding Al Qaeda’s birth.” He personally knew Osama bin Laden and interacted with him often.

As the Taliban came to power he joined with them although he maintained some level of autonomy. After the attacks on September 11, 2001 the United States government again tried to recruit him to fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He refused.

Haqqanni noted “We will retreat to the mountains and begin a long guerilla war to claim our pure land from infidels and free our country like we did against the Soviets.”

The Haqqani network carried out many successful attacks against United States personnel. They were also responsible for many other terrorist attacks including the July 7, 2008 bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul.

Haqqanni founded a militant Islamic group that has claimed many victims. His ability to lead these fighters from his base of operations made him a formidable warlord.