Overview

• The U.S. has lifted bounties on three senior Taliban leaders, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani, and Yahya Haqqani.
• The removal follows the Taliban's release of George Glezmann, a U.S. citizen held captive since December 2022.
• The Taliban has characterized these developments as part of its global push for normalization and international legitimacy.
• Qatar has played a key mediating role in facilitating the prisoner release and diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and the Taliban.
• Despite these steps, the Taliban remains internationally isolated due to its policies, particularly its restrictions on women and girls.