US denies dealing with Haqqani network

A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan denied reports that the United States was willing to cede territory in the country to the militant Haqqani network. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Twitty, a spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said allegations expressed in a Pakistani newspaper that the U.S. military was giving the Haqqani network control over some territory was "categorically false." A report in the Express Tribune cites a "senior American military official" who said Washington sees the Haqqani network as playing a key role in a future Afghanistan. "These comments, attributed to 'a senior American military official' are inconsistent with U.S. policy," Twitty said in a statement. "Further, only the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has the authority to take political steps on behalf of the Afghan people." Twitty's statement follows claims that a drone strike over northwest Pakistan killed Haqqani network leader Badruddin Haqqani, whose father founded the group. A spokesman for the Afghan government said there was evidence to support the claim, though a Taliban spokesman told CNN the allegation was "just propaganda and Haqqani is alive."