Afghan Officials in Cahoots With Taliban: Leader

Afghan intelligence agencies have been tipping off militants to US and NATO movements, a Taliban leader told NBC News during a secret interview near Pakistan’s tribal areas—where his role in setting up al-Qaeda safe havens has moved the US to put a $5 million bounty on his head. Sirajuddin Haqqani also dismissed the Obama administration’s claims that some Taliban members are willing to negotiate and abandon extremism.

“Even if they kill me, there are thousands of ‘Sirajuddins’ in Afghanistan,” Haqqani said. He claims Taliban weaponry has improved and they have “mastered new and innovative methods of making bombs.” Of President Obama’s $15 billion Pakistan aid package, Haqqani said: “The Americans think they can buy everything. That money will only turn more people against America and give us more space.” (More President Obama stories.)