Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Khalil Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting minister for refugees and a prominent figure in the Haqqani network, was killed Wednesday in a suicide bombing at the Ministry of Refugees’ headquarters in Kabul. The attack claimed at least four other lives, according to reports from CNN and CBS News.
The suicide bomber, disguised as a physically disabled visitor, detonated explosives as Haqqani was leaving his office to attend prayers. Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also leads the Haqqani network, confirmed the death of his uncle.
The Taliban announced an investigation into the bombing. While no group has claimed responsibility, ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan) has frequently targeted Taliban leaders and officials since the group’s rise to power in Afghanistan.
Khalil Haqqani had been managing a severe refugee crisis in Afghanistan. Last month, he publicly criticized neighboring countries for mistreating Afghan refugees and called on displaced citizens to return, citing improved security under Islamic Sharia law.
The Haqqani network, a Taliban-aligned group operating across Afghanistan and Pakistan, was responsible for numerous high-profile attacks during the past two decades, including assaults on U.S. and NATO forces.
The attack underscores the continued instability and factional violence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, with internal and external threats challenging the group’s rule.
