Afghan Biographies

Zadran, Sangin Mullah Sangeen


Name Zadran, Sangin Mullah Sangeen
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth
Function/Grade Taliban Commander
History and Biodata

3. Biodata:
zadran_sanginMullah Sangin is regarded as one of the most prominent field commanders loyal to Sirajuddin Haqqani and his well known father Jalahuddin Haqqani. As most of the militants of the Haqqani network, Mullah Sangin belongs to the Zadran tribe of North Waziristan. For several years now he is the “Director of Military Affairs of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for Paktika Province”.

The United States on Tuesday slapped sanctions on Commander Sangeen Zadran, blamed for a number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. The United Nations, too, has slapped sanctions on him.(20110816)



Among Mullah Sangin´s fighters there are not only Afghan and Pakistani Pashtuns but also foreign jihadis of Uzbek, Chechen and Arab origin. During an interview with al-Qaeda´s media wing As-Sahab in 2009, Mullah Sangin talked about the relationship between Taliban and Osama Bin Laden´s organization: “We do not see any difference between Taliban and Al- Qaeda, for we all belong to the religion of Islam.”

According to a 2009 French intelligence report, “the ISI intervened in 2003 to help to reorganize the Haqqani group`s fighting capabilities.” According to this source, ISI posts along the border area between the tribal zones and Afghanistan and in the cities of Mir Ali and Miram Shah “make it possible to protect the Haqqani network.”

French intelligence believes that Sirajuddin Haqqani has maintained the “special relations” that his father forged with Col Sultan Amir, aka Colonel Imram, during the anti-Soviet jihad. In 2009, his half-brother and deputy, Sangin Zadran, was put in charge of ties with the ISI post at Miram Shah. The ISI`s Col Mobin-ur-Rehman maintained contact with the network from his post at Bannu, east of North Waziristan.

Spc. Bowe Bergdahl, the only known U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan, appears briefly in a newly released Taliban video standing next to a smiling insurgent commander who once threatened to kill him. According to the Site Intelligence Group, which also tracks Islamic extremist activities, Bergdahl is standing next to Sangin Zadran. In July 2009, Sangin's spokesman said in a telephone interview that Bergdahl would be killed unless the United States stopped strikes in Ghazni province's Giro district and Paktika province's Khoshamand district. There are rumors that Bergdahl should have converted to Islam and is  training Taliban.

Mullah Sangin Zadran, has been the target of multiple Predator strikes. The United States on 20110816  slapped sanctions Commander Sangeen Zadran Haqqani Network,, blamed for a number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

Last Modified 2011-09-01
Established 2011-08-16