Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban’s acting minister for refugees, was killed along with six others in an explosion in Kabul on Wednesday, confirmed by his nephew, Anas Haqqani.
The Taliban government attributed the attack to the banned Islamic State (IS) group, though IS has not claimed responsibility. “We lost a very brave mujahid,” said Anas Haqqani, expressing his grief.
According to a government source speaking anonymously to AFP, the explosion occurred at the Ministry of Refugees, taking the life of Khalil Rahman Haqqani and several of his colleagues.
A Prominent Figure in the Haqqani Network
Khalil Rahman Haqqani was a senior leader of the Haqqani network, a militant group known for its violent campaigns during the Taliban’s insurgency. He was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the network’s founder, and the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s current interior minister.
Khalil joined the Taliban’s interim government as refugees minister following the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in 2021.
The U.S. Treasury had classified Khalil Rahman Haqqani as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in 2011, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Condemnation and Ongoing Threats
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the attack, extending condolences via a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he stated.
Though violence in Afghanistan has decreased since the Taliban regained control in 2021, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) remains a persistent threat, frequently targeting Taliban officials, civilians, and foreigners.
IS Activity in Afghanistan
IS-K has carried out numerous attacks in recent years, including a 2023 bombing near the Afghan foreign ministry that killed at least five people and a 2022 blast near the interior ministry that resulted in four deaths.
Internal Power Struggles
Reports suggest ongoing tensions within the Taliban’s leadership, with the Haqqani network vying for influence against factions loyal to the Taliban’s supreme leader, based in Kandahar.
Khalil Rahman Haqqani’s death highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Afghanistan’s leadership in maintaining stability amid persistent threats from IS and internal divisions.