Taliban Minister Killed in Kabul Suicide Bombing
Khalil Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriates Affairs and a senior Taliban leader, was killed in a suicide bombing at his ministry office in Kabul.
The attack occurred as Haqqani was leaving his office, claiming the lives of six others, according to Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the bombing through a statement released via its “Amaq” news agency. The group stated that the attacker had waited outside Haqqani’s office before detonating explosives as the minister exited.
Khalil Haqqani was a prominent figure within the Haqqani network, a powerful faction of the Taliban. He had been designated a global terrorist by the United States, which had placed a $5 million bounty on him for information leading to his capture.
The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, where tensions between the Taliban and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), an affiliate of IS, continue to escalate. The bombing also raises concerns about the Taliban’s ability to maintain stability as internal and external threats persist.
No further details about the investigation or security measures in response to the attack have been released.
