FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2007
RELEASE # 064

CJTF-82 confirms Mullah Sangeen’s death
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces killed senior Haqqani Network member Mullah Sangeen, second in command to militant commander Siraj Haqqani, head of the Haqqani network operating in eastern Afghanistan Dec. 11.

Sangeen was responsible for attacks on Afghan forces and improvised explosive device bombings. He is the second major Haqqani network member killed in the last 45 days. Abdul Manan was killed Oct. 28.

“That we would get two Haqqani sub-commanders so close together certainly raises an eyebrow and begins to make me wonder if Haqqani isn’t looking to get rid of those sub-commanders he doesn’t trust. Certainly, that’s all speculative, but it does make one wonder,” said Lt. Col. Dave Anders, Combined Joint Task Force-82 operations officer.

Haqqani’s father, Jalaludin Haqqani was renowned in Afghanistan for bravery in battles against the Russians here during the 1980s.

“This behavior is typical of what we’ve come to learn about Haqqani. He isn't his father,” Anders said. “Siraj remains in Pakistan in relative safety and puts his subordinates in grave danger. It’s a different kind of leadership.”

Sangeen carried a reward for $20,000 and Haqqani carries a reward for $200,000 offered by the U.S. government.