Khalil Rahman Haqqani, Afghanistan’s acting minister for refugees, was killed along with six others in an explosion in Kabul on Wednesday, his nephew Anas Haqqani confirmed. The banned Islamic State (IS) group is suspected to be behind the attack, though no immediate claim of responsibility was made.
“We lost a brave mujahid,” Anas Haqqani said, mourning his uncle’s death. A government source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the explosion occurred at the Ministry of Refugees, claiming the lives of Khalil and his colleagues.
Khalil was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the Haqqani network, which orchestrated some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban’s insurgency. He held a ministerial position in the Taliban’s interim government following the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021 and was also an uncle to Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s interior minister.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed condolences, condemning terrorism and pledging communication with the Afghan authorities to obtain more details.
While violence in Afghanistan has decreased since the Taliban assumed power in 2021, IS-Khorasan, the regional branch of IS, continues to carry out attacks. The group has frequently targeted civilians, foreign officials, and Taliban leaders with bombs and gunfire.
Khalil Haqqani was previously designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the US Treasury in 2011, and a $5 million reward was announced for information leading to his capture.
The Haqqani network, which Khalil represented, has long been a powerful faction within the Taliban government, often seen as vying for influence against more hardline leaders aligned with Kandahar. IS has been linked to the deaths of several senior Taliban figures, including provincial governors, commanders, and religious leaders, since the group’s return to power.
