Nasiruddin Haqqani, a senior militant and son of the founder of the Haqqani Network, was shot to death by gunman in the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.
The Haqqani Network, founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, is linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban and are considered terrorist by the United States government, according to CNN.
Nasiruddin was a key financier for the network and was gunned down by men on motorcycles when he stopped to pick up fresh bread on Sunday night in an area called Bhara Kahu, a few miles from the U.S. Embassy, the AP reported.
The senior leader was shot more than 20 times, according to a senior Pakistani intelligence official, CNN reported. Another Afghan Taliban member told CNN they have no comments on the media reports, but Nasiruddin has been confirmed dead.
A witness to the shooting at the nearby bakery, Tanveer Ahmed, told the AP bullet holes and blood were left on the pavement in front of the bakery and said he did not know the victim's identity until afterwards.
The U.S. has accused the Pakistan intelligence agency of working with the Haqqani Network especially during the Afghan war, and Nasiruddin's appearance in the Pakistani capital are raising eyebrows in Washington, the AP reported.
Due to the U.S.drone killing of the Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Meshud a day before he was expected to join a peace talk, Nasiruddin's death may be viewed as a U.S. attack by Talban members, according to the AP.
Nasiruddin's body was taken to the Haqqani Network's main sanctuary town of Miran Shah where he will be buried Monday afternoon, according to a Taliban official, the AP reported.
The Haqqani Network is currently led by Nasiruddin's brother, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and has been blamed for the most high-profile attacks in Afghanistan and were given sanctions by the U.S Treasury in 2010 after adding them to the list of global terrorist.
