The Haqqani network kidnapped Canadian Joshua Boyle and his wife, Caitlan Coleman, and held them for five years until their escape in October. When the Trump administration announced this week it was suspending military aid to Pakistan until the country takes more aggressive action against terrorist organizations that have targeted Americans, one of the groups it named was the Haqqani network. That includes Afghan security forces, government buildings, civilians, and western forces and interests, including the U.S. embassy and military bases. The group is known to maintain close ties to al-Qaida, the Pakistani Taliban and to the Pakistani military intelligence services, experts said. The network is believed to be financed by some Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, and by the Pakistani establishment.

Source: thestar January 07, 2018 03:11 UTC