“On the date noted above, the IEA released a statement on its website threatening wide-spread retribution if the government carries out the death sentence for Anas Haqqani, who is currently being held at Bagram Airfield.

“If the higher courts also uphold the death sentence to Anas Haqqani, it will have very disastrous and dangerous consequences for the current regime,” according to the statement. “The war and its intensity will increase in all parts of the country. A lot of blood will be spilled and the government will be responsible for all of it.”

Anas Haqqani has been held for nearly 18 months, and at the end of August, the GOA announced he had been sentenced to death (although it is unclear on what charges). The announcement has brought with it a range of threats promised by the IEA, and developments surrounding the case should be followed closely by NGOs thorough the country.

The response by the IEA is not surprising and further statements can almost certainly be expected. Just days before the statement was released, a video was shared by IEA media showing two Western captives (an American woman and a Canadian man) who were abducted by the group in 2012. Both abductees pleaded with their respected governments to pressure the Afghan government to change its execution policy. The Canadian stated that in order to get the policy changed or take revenge the IEA was willing to kill them and their two children (both of which were born in captivity).

The use of Western hostages to prevent executions of AOG members or to secure their release through prisoner exchanges is nothing new. The most prominent example took place in May 2014 when the US government released five IEA commanders held at Guantanamo Bay detention centre in exchange for the release of a US soldier, who had been held by the group since 2009.

Given Anas’ high profile, it is unlikely that the US/Afghan governments would use him in a prisoner exchange. Further, if Anas is in fact executed, this could led to revenge killings against Western citizens currently being held by the group in response. There is reliable information that the Haqqani Network has over the past two years attempted to conduct abductions of high profile Westerners in the county to use for exactly for this purpose… 

The IEA showed it was able to follow through on threats made in response to the May execution. And a similar show of force – if not much greater – on judiciary targets and GOA targets more broadly could almost certainly be expected following the execution of Anas.”

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 INSO SECURITY REPORT - AFG: IEA Threats over Haqqani Execution

Please pray for Afghanistan and its healing and restoration from years of war. Continue to pray that the Taliban terrorists will be thrown into disunity and dissolution, will give up there fruitless, destructive conflict with the government, and will sue for peace. Pray for protection for those serving there as part of the NGO humanitarian community, both Christians and non-Christians, that they will be able to carry out their work and be kept from kidnappings and other dangers to themselves and their families. In addition, pray for the quick release of any being held by the Taliban or IEA.