The founder of the Haqqani network who was feted by America as an anti-Soviet Afghan resistance hero in the 1980s only to become one of its most wanted enemies has died.

Jalaluddin Haqqani went from young radical and Mujahideen commander to leader of a militant network responsible for some of the bloodiest suicide attacks on civilians and the internationally-backed Afghan government.

He died bedridden after years of ill health which have seen control of his grouping pass to his son.

Battlefield successes and tight organisation saw him become one of the CIA's prized commanders in the 1980s as America funnelled money and arms into the anti-Soviet resistance through Pakistan.

He later turned his military skills against his former patron as he aligned with the Taliban during its insurgency against Hamid Karzai's government and his network was designated a terrorism organisation.