Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, Afghanistan’s acting minister for refugees, was eliminated in an explosion in Kabul on Wednesday, as per Al Jazeera report.
The attack also claimed the lives of five others. The explosion occurred at the Ministry of Refugees, where Haqqani was working.
A Taliban spokesman confirmed his death, while officials from the Interior Ministry reported that the explosion resulted from a suicide bombing. The Islamic State group (IS) later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Haqqani’s death represents a significant loss for the Taliban government, which came into power following the US-led withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Since then, he had been serving as the acting minister for refugees, reported by Al Jazeera.
Haqqani, a prominent member of the Haqqani Network, a militant group responsible for several violent attacks during the Taliban’s 20-years insurgency, was widely recognised for his efforts in addressing the refugee crisis that escalated after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan.
He was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who currently serves as the Taliban’s Interior Minister.
The bombing occurs amid rising tensions and a fragile security situation in Afghanistan. Haqqani’s role as the head of the refugee ministry positioned him as a key figure in addressing the country’s pressing humanitarian issues, as per Al Jazeera report.