A suicide explosion at the ministry’s offices in the capital Kabul on Wednesday killed the Afghan minister for refugees, a government source told AFP.
“Unfortunately an explosion occurred at the Ministry of Refugees, and Minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani and a few of his colleagues were martyred,” the official, who asked not to be identified, stated.
“A suicide blast was responsible for the explosion,” he continued.
Jalaluddin Haqqani was the founder of the infamous Haqqani network, which was responsible for some of the most brutal attacks during the Taliban’s two-decade war. His brother, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, is on the US sanctions list and is never seen without an automatic rifle in his hand.
Additionally, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current interior minister, was his uncle.
According to reports, the Haqqanis are fighting for power inside the Taliban leadership.
Following the Taliban’s top leader, who is based in Kandahar, they are positioned as a pragmatic party against those who favour a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Since the Taliban regained power, several high-ranking Taliban officials have been slain, primarily in strikes attributed to the Islamic State organisation. These individuals include commanders, religious clerics, and province governors.
After Taliban militants seized power in 2021 and put an end to their conflict with the United States and other forces commanded by NATO, violence in Afghanistan has decreased.
However, the Islamic State Khorasan regional branch is active in Afghanistan and has frequently used bombs and guns to assault Taliban officials, foreigners, and civilians.