Media reports reported yesterday that Taliban Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Haqqani has been killed in a suicide bombing inside the interior ministry in Kabul.
The BBC says that according to interior ministry sources, six others died in the blast as Haqqani was leaving his office.
The Islamic State (IS) terror group later claimed responsibility for the attack.
The BBC reports that according to a report issued by IS's "news agency" Amaq, an IS militant waited outside the minister's office and detonated explosives as he walked out.
Reuters news agency reported that a Taliban spokesperson had confirmed that Haqqani was killed by IS group.
TOLOnews reported yesterday that the Islamic Emirate has announced in a statement that Khalil Haqqani was killed in today's explosion. According to the Islamic Emirate, the IS group is responsible for this attack, according to TOLOnews.
Khaama Press News Agency reports that Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, stated in a message that Khalil Haqqani was killed in an attack by “Khawarij” (referred to IS group).
Khaama Press News Agency says the IS-Khorasan branch, as an active terrorist group in Afghanistan, has repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks against high-ranking Taliban figures. The assassination of Mullah Dawood Muzammil, the Taliban governor of Balkh, and the killing of Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, the Taliban deputy governor of Badakhshan, are examples of such actions.
Regarding Khalil Haqqani, it is said that the Haqqani network maintains good relations with IS group members, it is not unlikely that IS could have carried out this attack.
Mujahid, referring to the U.S. offer of a $5 million reward for Haqqani’s capture, reportedly mentioned that Haqqani was a prominent member of a large jihadist family, and the enemies of Islam had placed a bounty on his head.
He further remarked, “Today, he was martyred by the Khawarij, who claim to be Muslims while declaring other Muslims as apostates.”
Khalil Haqqani entered government after the Taliban seized power following US-led drawdown in 2021. He was a top member of a powerful faction in the Taliban called the Haqqani Network, and was designated a global terrorist by the US.
Founded by Khalil Haqqani's brother Jalaluddin, the Haqqani Network was behind many attacks during the Taliban's 20-year insurgency.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the minister's nephew and son of Jalaluddin, is the current interior minister in the Taliban government.
