Fountainhead of Jihad: The Haqqani Nexus, 1973-2010

by Vahid Brown, Don Rassler

Drawing upon a wealth of previously unresearched primary sources in many languages, the authors shed much new light on a group frequently described as the most lethal actor in the current Afghan insurgency, and shown here to have been for decades at the centre of a nexus of transnational Islamist militancy, fostering the development of jihadi organisations from Southeast Asia to East Africa. Addressing the abundant new evidence documenting the Haqqani network's pivotal role in the birth and evolution of the global jihadi movement, the book also represents a significant advance in our knowledge of the history of al-Qaeda, fundamentally altering the picture painted by the existing literature on the subject.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Islam, Terrorism, Middle East

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a useful if incomplete history of the organization. The book seems to be best-grounded in the anti-Soviet jihad era and in discussions of the historical interlinkages between the Haqqanis and Al Qaeda and other Arab Afghan militants. The organizational relationship between the Haqqanis and the Taliban — which appears to have become more significant in the years since publication, even as Al Qaeda's capabilities have degraded following bin Laden's death — is discussed to some degree here but in comparatively less detail and maybe with less access to primary sources. The relationship between the Haqqanis and the ISI / Pakistani security services is also noted but given the covert nature of that connection since 2001, there's not much in the way of contemporaneous specifics. In the years since publication, several of the TTP-affiliated commanders that the book identifies as having close relations with the Haqqanis later split (or were wooed away) from the TTP as the latter ramped up violence against the Pakistani state.

[ahmad afridi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When military operation in north Waziristan started a couple of years back , American authorities were continuously demanding pak to take action against haqqani network . Even on few occasions they conditioned their coalition aid with elimination of haqqani network . Naturally like many I was curious about haqqani network and wanted to know why they became so important once at all . I read accessible literature about them but many points were missing then a teacher recommended me this book . Was looking for this book in Pakistan for more than 3 years but wasn’t available . At last got a soft copy from a friend living abroad .

Now coming to this book this was like encyclopedia of haqqani network , a well-researched book covering historical Background , foundation . Influences and working of haqqani network .having roots in highland Pashtuns and history of resistance against foreign invaders HN (haqqani network) has got support for the masses . This support acting the most important factor for safely operating in those areas (paktia and Waziristan).

when Afghanistan became battlefield for global jihad in late 20th century jihadists from all over the world flung to Afghanistan to pursue their goals, Unlike other warlords in Afghanistan who hesitated to adjust those fighters it was HN which provided bases, training camps and served as launching pads for foreign fighters . And many of its workers later on became prominent figures in different organizations like al-Qaeda and Turkistan Islamic movement . Thus acting as nursery for global jihad or in words of HN fountain head of jihad all over the world .use of media (print, audiovisual) as a weapon to propagate their message and getting sponsors is discussed to length as well as importance of their base camps Waziristan and paktia .


The most intriguing aspect of HN is their relations with local and global jihadist actors and Pakistani state institutions . How cleverly they used different actors for global jihad cause by sometime just sitting back and accepting submission , like they did with Taliban and at times actively dictating the whole scenario. HN acted as mediators between different local groups and kept them working for a greater cause rather than fighting with one another and amidst all these dealings maintaining their Independent status. This lead to conclusion that in presence of a mother organization like HN operations against small outfits won't help that much as the disintegrated organization can again come on surface under guidance of such organizations.

So what is in it for Pakistan to neglect HN and add them to their "good taliban" list . The answer is pak need HN for their control over Afghanistan in current as well as post American time . Both depend on one another for other multiple purposes like using HN as middleman for negotiations and different deals .all this done in exchange for their safe sanctuaries in south Waziristan as well as safe cross border movements .

A little confusion this book created is regarding the opening chapters where writers argued HN to be Pashtun nationalists guarding their highland areas against intruders while now their collaboration with pakistan which surely include approval of pakistan stand on Durand line which I don’t think a nationalist can compromise on.

highly recommended to those interested in origin of jihadist organizations in AfPak region as well as working of haqqani network

[Aqeel Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Nonfiction
#BookWorm
📘 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐝 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐪𝐪𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐬, 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟑–𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐
✍️ By Vahid Brown & Don Rassler

This powerful book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Afghanistan War on Terror and the forces that shaped its outcome. Using rare sources and deep research, the authors trace the rise of the Haqqani Network—once hailed as fierce anti-Soviet fighters, later becoming one of the most formidable insurgent groups against U.S. and NATO forces.

The story begins with Jalaluddin Haqqani, a tribal leader from the Zadran tribe in Loya Paktia, who studied at the famed Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary. He fought against the Soviets in the 1980s and later became a key Taliban ally, forging lasting ties with Al-Qaeda and other militant groups. Today, his son Sirajuddin Haqqani leads the network, which U.S. officials like General James Mattis have described as a major reason for America’s defeat in Afghanistan.

The book sheds light on:
🔹 The network’s role in the Taliban movement (1994–1999)
🔹 Alliances with regional actors like TTP and global jihadist groups
🔹 Its influence on cross-border militancy between Afghanistan and Pakistan
🔹 How it evolved from a local insurgency into a global jihadist hub

What makes this book stand out is how it connects tribal traditions, religious ideology, and geopolitics into a single narrative—helping us understand not just what the Haqqani Network is, but why it became so powerful.

📖 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: Highly recommended for history buffs, policy watchers, and anyone who wants to understand the hidden forces behind decades of conflict in the region.

#NonFiction #BookReview #WarOnTerror #Afghanistan #Recommended #MustRead

[Srikanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most important books to come out in the recent history on an extremely important actor in AfPak region.

Some data points which actually show how important has this actor been for the whole world per-se


Which actor has been active in the Mujaheddin war against the Russians from the early 80's?
Who was the first actor to have used media for campaign and publicity?
Which group used offices for funding purposes in the middle east on a continuous basis?
Which group has survived in the notorious AfPak region for close to 4 decades by playing off all sides?
Which group is used by ISI/Pak Govt for rein in militants that are involved in anti Pak militancy?
All the above questions have just one answer. The Haqqani network.


One of the main reasons that i supremely endorse this book are the following reasons


This is the first time that any serious work has been done to highlight about this very resilient and dangerous network.
It talks about its capabilities and its origins, which is very important in the current context.
Immense research has gone into collating and making sense of the information. As most of the actors involved have a complex and concentric relationships.
This book should be made an essential reading as it talks about the global and local reach of this network.
The only points that i would like to make on this book which i felt may be changed in the future are as follows

It will be difficult to grasp and keep all the arabic/Afghan names in perspective. So a family tree/ Org chart with names and operating areas would have been of an immense help.
The chapters though have a good continuity, sort of drag in the end and get somewhat repetitive. It looks like as though the authors are desperate to convince us about the network.
Pics of all the personalities both living & dead- a rouges gallery would have been an icing on the cake.
But this book is not the end all. Infact it should be the begining of our reasearch into the network and many of its players and stakeholders. Just imagine that Haqqani network may also be one of the reasons of the breakup of the USSR with some outside help. This network has perfected the art of being a sort of VC for global terror and a pioneer in strategy & political tactics.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells us the story of a network.

And this network has survived for approximately four and a half decades, in an enormously impulsive, unstable and volatile section of the globe, and it has done so mostly through a cautious calculation, that has kept it at the center of a bordello of violence.

Let us recapitulate the story laconically:

The year is 1979. The Soviets invade Afghanistan. And that self-same invasion provides a prospect to the Haqqanis.

Patriarch Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose name the network bears, strives for the support of Arab volunteers not just to deliver battalions, but also with an eye on the future, to carry jihad worldwide.

Jump over a decade more. It is the 90’s. Pakistan and Afghanistan is becoming the centre of a transnational nexus of Islamist militancy, providing support to jihadi networks from Southeast Asia to East Africa.

The Haqqanis thus become a marque, a registered tradebrand, a global definition of terror.

Their business prototype today bears a resemblance to that of a mafia operation which has expanded its activities beyond the illegitimate economy and traditional donors to incorporate legitimate activities in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East.

How does a ‘network’ evolve, survive and even thrive in an extremely volatile region of the world in the face of mounting counter-terrorism operations?

Vahid Brown and Don Rassler provide some answers to this question, through their explanation of the techniques of survival as well as evolution of the Haqqani network.

It has done so predominantly through a cautious balancing act that has kept it in the centre of a triangular relationship with the Pakistani Taliban, the Pakistani military, and Al Qaeda.

The book is in two parts with clearly defined chapters, which will make it a useful reference source for those seeking to elucidate the origins of current relationships and manoeuvrings in that area.

Part I initially sets out the origins of the ‘Haqqani Network’ (the authors tend to use this term rather than the ‘Nexus’ of the title) – by which is meant a group of tribal leaders on the south-eastern border of Afghanistan, who mostly graduated from the Deobandi madrassa of that name near Peshawar in Pakistan – and how they became involved with the Kabul/Khandahar-based groups who formed an element of the anti-Soviet resistance and then became the Taliban.

Against the background of an overview of the history of Afghanistan from the 1950s to ‘9/11’, the authors show that, even before the Soviet invasion of 1979, there was co-operation between these two groups.

They also describe – which is of equivalent importance – how, although there was a joint devotion to the idea of an ‘Islamic State’, there were substantial alterations in political objectives, based on the predisposition of the nascent Taliban to seek centralized control in Afghanistan, as opposed to the Haqqani Network’s support for local autonomy, chiefly in their home territory of the highlands straddling the eastern end of the Durand Line.

The latter attitude reaches back to the British experiences there in first half of the 20th century; and, of course, it lies at the heart of the difficulties faced by the current government of Pakistan in trying to control the ‘Talibanisation’ of Pakistan – as General Musharraf presciently defined it.

The rest of Part I covers the development of the Haqqani network during the Jihad against the Soviets and, more importantly, how its connection with the ‘foreign fighters’ in that struggle, through collaboration with them in training and equipment, and the ultimate provision of sanctuary in the Pak/Afghan border areas, created a relationship with Al Qaeda which was closer than that group’s involvement with the Taliban.

It also develops the detail of the Pakistani role, particularly under President Zia’s Islamist regime, in supporting the Haqqani Network and using them to recruit and train forces for the anti-Indian groups of Kashmir.

Part I completes with a fleeting account and valuation of the attempts by the Americans and the Pakistanis to get Haqqani co-operation in finishing Al Qaeda.

As to another places in the book, the authors incline to propose that the Americans failed to offer an adequate level of compromise, but equally offer proof that the Haqqanis remained progressively dedicated to the ideals of the ‘Islamic struggle’; one’s impression is that the Haqqanis would have taken the benefits of any compromise deal, and then defaulted on the delivery of the Al Qaeda leadership.

Part II appraisals the present position of the Haqqani Network in terms of local, regional and global factors.

There is much valuable contextual material in the chapters and the assumptions are forthright.

Locally the Haqqanis are now a foremost factor in supporting the Talibanisation of Pakistan. Despite this role, provincially they remain convenient to the Pakistani government and its security agencies, which see the Haqqanis as allies in blocking perceived Indian efforts to establish influence in Afghanistan and, thereby, to repudiate Pakistan the ‘defence in depth’ the Pakistan military believe they neec require to overthrow the ‘inevitable’ Indian invasion.

Globally, the Haqqanis progressively trust in the ‘Islamic Jihad’ and consequently offer protection and support to the remnants of Al Qaeda on both sides of the Durand Line, and also involve in training of terrorists being despatched elsewhere, including to Western Europe.

As a final point, this book contains an imposing quantity of primary source material that challenges conventional studies about terrorism in the region.

Indeed, as Rassler notes, ‘It is shocking and concerning that thousands of pages of these unique and revealing sources have been publically available for the last ten years at a local library in Kabul where, beyond the eyes of local Afghan readers, they have essentially sat gathering dust’ (p. 235).

Through their own elucidation of these primary sources, the authors exhibit how essential the network was in facilitating and supporting al Qaeda before and after 2001.

A must-read for any student of international relations.

[Lavleen Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jalaluddin Haqqani terrorist network (HQN)

The book starts off with the history of the highlanders. The strategic position the Haqqanis occupy between Afghanistan and Pakistan is described. Though they do not hold apparent allegiance with the Al Qaeda, they are deep in the mud with them. It is argued that they are an offshoot of the Taliban.

It is certain that they have given practice grounds and military training to the Al Qaeda militants and various other people who have gone on to make headways into the Worldwide Jihadi movement in the name of their respective states or regions. In fact, their networks power has made the enmity that Al Qaeda has against the US - of such magnitude as seen today.

The Haqqanis are not that fleeting type of a militant group. They are the aboriginal Jihadis. They are the source of more that half the Jihad that has been brought upon our world. The media propagation of Jihadi material and training has been their impromptu development because of the anger of non representation.

Their negotiations with both the states have been important in shaping the politics in and across these two border states, though they majorly take shelter on the Pak side of the line. Their rein is from the pre Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan era. They take Pak's side to exert pressure on Afghanistan. Then they been the privy partners with the States during the Afghan Russian war. And on occasions they have taken the Taliban and the Afghans side to put pressure on the Pak Govt.

The US has used them to dictate many terms to Pakistan. Though Pak has not given them that leeway, it is definitely scared of the terror they bring to the table. We are told of the reason why they have the post world war American and Russian arms & equipment. Post American withdrawal from Afghanistan left a void - which was again filled by the Haqqanis.

Point to note. This book though is a seminal record of a history bygone - it may or may not stand any ground today. They have a fleeting power, which may or may not survive this decade.

[C K · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLUF: Authors read Haqqani magazine back-issues and summarize their analysis for 2013-era Afghan watchers.

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown and Rassler deliver a solid contribution to our understanding not only of the Haqqani network, but to international jihad more broadly. Sifting through thousands of primary sources, the authors smartly position the Haqqanis as a critical nexus of local (eastern Afghanistan/Waziristan), regional, and global jihad, arguing that the Haqqani network provides local and foreign jihadis with a secure geographical area to train, easy access to military fronts and hardware smuggling routes, and a network of able and prolific media operations to broadcast activities and inspire new recruits. In return, the Haqqanis receive local and foreign manpower, a reputation bolstered by connections to more internationally-oriented jihadi groups, and donor funding.

I thought Fountainhead of Jihad's most interesting feat is situating the Haqqani network in closer proximity to al-Qa'ida than other hypotheses of the two groups' relationship. Brown and Rassler posit that the Haqqanis may have actually inspired al-Qa'ida's turn from jihad against corrupt regional governments to jihad against the United States, and that the networks continues to have ties to high-profile attacks carried out in Europe and elsewhere. In short, far from focusing solely on autonomy in the highlands of eastern Afghanistan, the Haqqanis quietly and indirectly support violent global jihad, according to Brown and Rassler.

Unfortunately, Fountainhead of Jihad was published in 2013. It's unclear how the Haqqanis have and will respond to the rise of Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Daesh's recent attacks could begin to move the epicenter of global jihad from the mountains of the Durand Line back to the deserts west of the Tigris and Euphrates. How the Haqqani network might respond to that prospective shift is an interesting question for some future enterprising author.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing read of what is, without a doubt, the definitive volume on the Haqqani Network. In addition, the extensive chapter notes and bibliography point to everything of substance (as of the date of publication) in print and online on the subject. The authors' detailed progression from from local, to regional, and then global influences and impacts clearly illustrate in practical terms the title characterizations of 'fountainhead of jihad' and 'nexus' in the context of the Haqqani Network. Beyond that, the book truly illustrates the Haqqani Network's 'centrality' - across the entire spectrum of the term's meaning in SNA - with regard to local, regional, and global jihadi insurgent and terror organizations. This book is a must-read for anyone working the country and region professionally in the intelligence or policy communities.

[Riet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een interessant boek, als je in het onderwerp geinteresseerd bent. De schrijvers hebben over een periode van 20 jaar - 10 jaar pre 9/11 en 10 jaar post 9/11 - de situatie op de grens tussen Afghanisten en Pakistan geanalyseerd. Vooral gebasserd op het Haqqani network en hoe dit gelieerd is aan de Taliban en aan al Qaida. Goed leesbaar gechreven en aan het eind weet je, dat de problemen daar nog lang niet zijn opgelost.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and holistic look at the origins of the Haqqani Network and how it is involved with the broader global jihad movement. This book sheds light on how Haqqani relationships have played out both domestically (AFG and PAK) and internationally. Book also has a great flow, especially when considering the ground it covers.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of its kind, this well written and well sourced book examines the origins of the Haqqani network and how it manages its relations with the Taliban, al Qaeda and Pakistan. A must read for anyone interested in Afghanistan.

[Manish Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unbiased and well researched book from a Pakistani author who is surprisingly candid. A rarity, because truth doesn't come out of Pakistan quite often.