Editing Sirajuddin Haqqani (section)

===Taliban rule===
When the Taliban retook control of the country in August 2021, the leader of the Islamic Emirate became Afghanistan's ''de facto'' ruler and head of state, and the deputy leader became the country's second-most-powerful position. Haqqani was appointed the acting interior minister of Afghanistan in the Caretaker Cabinet of the Islamic Emirate on 7 September.

Haqqani gave his first ever on-camera interview in May 2022, with Christiane Amanpour in Kabul. Following the interview, he was described by Amanpour as the "heir" to Akhundzada in his capacity as deputy leader and "the most powerful member, frankly, of the current government, and indeed in the Taliban movement" due to Akhundzada's isolation in Kandahar.

In the interview, Haqqani acknoweldged concern by the international community over the treatment of women by the Taliban, and claimed women's rights would be respected, despite recent crackdowns, including an abrupt closure of secondary schools for girls and a decree requiring women to wear full-body coverings when in public. He claimed the schools would reopen once dress code issues were resolved, and said the veil decree was only advisory, despite evidence to the contrary. Haqqani also said the Taliban wants good relations with the United States and the international community, and no longer sees the U.S. as an enemy. As Grid has reported, the Taliban has made almost no movement toward making good on that pledge.

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