KHAR, Pakistan – Pakistan is investigating whether the son of the founder of the powerful Haqqani militant network, which has been blamed for high-profile attacks and kidnappings in Afghanistan, was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week, officials said Saturday.

If confirmed, the death of Badruddin Haqqani, who has been described as the network’s day-to-day operations commander, would mark a major blow to the organization founded by his father, Jalaluddin Haqqani, and viewed by the U.S. as a powerful enemy in neighboring Afghanistan.

Two Pakistani intelligence officials said Saturday they are 90 percent certain Badruddin Haqqani was killed Tuesday in North Waziristan in an American missile attack. They said their information was based on reports received from their agents in the field but acknowledged they haven’t spoken to anyone who has seen the body.

A senior Taliban commander said a U.S. drone strike killed Badruddin Haqqani.

 


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