Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban’s acting minister for refugees, was killed in an explosion in Kabul on Wednesday, which also claimed the lives of six others, according to his nephew.
The Taliban spokesperson attributed the attack to the Islamic State (ISIS), though the group has not yet claimed responsibility.
Haqqani, a senior leader of the Haqqani network, was a prominent figure in the Taliban’s interim government formed after the U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. The U.S. State Department had designated him as a “global terrorist” in 2011, offering a $5 million reward for his arrest.
The attack occurred as Haqqani was leaving a mosque after afternoon prayers. His nephew, Anas Haqqani, expressed grief over the loss, calling him a “brave Mujahid,” and vowed that his sacrifice would not be forgotten.
“We lost a very brave Mujahid,” Anas Haqqani said, using the Taliban’s term for its fighters, meaning holy warrior. “We will never forget him and his sacrifice.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the attack, reaffirming Pakistan’s stance against terrorism. “Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.
This incident follows a series of similar attacks in the region, highlighting the persistent threat posed by ISIS in Afghanistan.
Melissa Enoch
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