US Drops Bounty After Hostage Release

The United States has lifted a $10 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of Sirajuddin Haqqani, a major Taliban leader and the first deputy leader of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Despite the removal of the bounty, the FBI still lists the reward on its website, citing Haqqani's involvement in cross-border attacks against US and coalition forces. This action follows the release of US citizen George Glezmann, who was held captive by the Taliban for two years, marking a potential shift in US-Taliban relations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the release as a 'positive and constructive step,' acknowledging Qatar's role in the process. Speculation suggests a possible deal was struck between the Haqqanis and previous US administrations, particularly under Donald Trump, to improve diplomatic relations. The Haqqani Network remains recognized as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US, underscoring the complex dynamics between international policy and the Taliban administration.