Taliban minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani killed in suicide bombing in Kabul

Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Minister for Refugees under the Taliban government, was killed in an explosion at the ministry’s headquarters in Kabul on Wednesday. 

The blast, which targeted Haqqani, resulted in his death along with at least four of his associates, according to a senior figure from the Taliban-run Ministry of Interior, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The attack, described as a suicide bombing, occurred as Haqqani was leaving his office to attend prayers. 

The assailant reportedly disguised himself as a visitor, pretending to be physically disabled before detonating the explosive device. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, confirmed Haqqani's death and attributed the attack to ISIS-Khorasan, the regional branch of the Islamic State.

Haqqani, who was the brother of the late Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the notorious Haqqani network, had a significant presence within the Taliban leadership. The Haqqani network, notorious for its violent operations during the Taliban insurgency, continues to wield substantial influence. His death marks a considerable blow to both the Taliban and the Haqqani network, which remains embroiled in an internal power struggle.

The US government had previously offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Khalil Haqqani’s capture. Despite the decrease in violence since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, ISIS-K has continued to target Taliban officials, civilians, and foreign nationals, seeking to destabilize the regime.

Haqqani’s death highlights the ongoing volatility within Afghanistan, particularly regarding the security challenges facing the Taliban regime.

By Aghakazim Guliyev