Afghan Haqqani Network Deputy Killed by Drone Strike

Maulavi Ahmad Jan, Deputy Chief of the Haqqani Network and linked with a number of suicide bombings in Afghanistan, was killed in a U.S. drone attack in northern Pakistan on Thursday.

 
According to an Afghan Intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Maulavi Ahmad and five other Afghan militants were killed in Khaibar Pakhtoonkha province when a U.S. drone fired two missiles into a Madrassa known for training insurgents.
The attack is not as high-profile as the one that killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, on November 1. But it is likely to raise tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan as local leaders plan to organize protests to block NATO supplies lines through western Pakistan into Afghanistan. Officials in Islamabad have also issued harsh criticisms of the U.S. drone warfare, calling it an attack on Pakistani sovereignty.
Meanwhile, political commentators have been skeptical about how impactful the killing of Maulavi Ahmad Jan would be on the Haqqani Network's terrorist activities.
"Undoubtedly, killing of al-Qaeda members in some extent are blows against it, but it hasn't had deep impacts on security," Afghan military expert Amrullah Aman said.
The Haqqani Network is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and its allies, and has been known to provide training and financing for the Afghan Taliban. It is also linked with al-Qaeda.
Two weeks ago, top Haqqani leader Nasiruddin Haqqani was shot dead outside of his home near Islamabad. No one has yet claimed responsibility for his death.
"I think to some extent it will hurt Taliban morale, but killing of these individuals doesn't mean eliminating the Haqqani Network, another expert named Mohammad Sarwar Niazi said.