Taliban Minister Khalil Rahman Haqqani Killed in K...

Taliban Minister Khalil Rahman Haqqani Killed in Kabul Bombing

Zim Now Writer

Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban's acting minister for refugees and repatriation, was killed in a bomb blast in Kabul on Wednesday, alongside six others. The attack, attributed to the Islamic State group, occurred as Haqqani was leaving a mosque following afternoon prayers, his nephew Anas Haqqani confirmed.

The Taliban spokesperson condemned the attack, which Islamic State has not yet formally claimed responsibility for. Khalil Haqqani, in his 50s, had been a prominent figure in the Taliban’s interim government since the group seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of foreign forces. He was also a senior leader in the Haqqani network, a faction accused of orchestrating major attacks during Afghanistan's two-decade war.

"We have lost a courageous Mujahid who sacrificed his life for Islam," Anas Haqqani stated. "His contributions will never be forgotten."

The blast highlights the persistent insecurity in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s takeover and their promises to restore peace. Similar attacks in the past include a 2023 bombing claimed by Islamic State outside the Taliban-controlled foreign ministry, which killed at least five people, and a 2022 explosion near the interior ministry that claimed four lives.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed his condolences, calling the incident shocking. “Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said in a statement.

Khalil Haqqani had been designated a "global terrorist" by the United States in 2011, with a US$5 million bounty for information leading to his capture. His death marks another grim episode in Afghanistan's ongoing cycle of violence.

The Taliban, who have faced mounting security challenges, continue to grapple with attacks in urban areas despite their control over the country.