Afghan Minister Killed By Suicide Blast At Ministry’s Offices

The official, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.

“Unfortunately, an explosion occurred at the Ministry of Refugees, and Minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, along with some of his colleagues, has been martyred,” the source said.

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Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, who was on the U.S. sanctions list and always appeared with an automatic weapon, was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the notorious Haqqani network.

The group is infamous for carrying out some of the deadliest attacks during the Taliban’s insurgency. Khalil was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current interior minister.

The Haqqani family is believed to be engaged in a power struggle within the Taliban, with the Haqqanis seen as a more pragmatic faction, often in contrast to those supporting the strict interpretation of Islamic law advocated by the Taliban’s supreme leader, based in Kandahar.

Several senior Taliban figures, including governors, commanders, and clerics, have been killed since the Taliban’s return to power, often in attacks claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS-K), the regional chapter of ISIS.

While violence has decreased since the Taliban took control in 2021, ISIS-K remains active in Afghanistan, regularly carrying out attacks targeting civilians, foreigners, and Taliban officials.