The Afghan Taliban government’s minister for refugees was killed Wednesday in an explosion at the ministry’s headquarters in the capital Kabul, two senior Taliban regime officials told CBS News. The explosion at the Refugee Ministry killed Minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani and at least two of his colleagues, officials told CBS News’ Sami Yousafzai.
The total number of casualties from the explosion remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from several to ten. Taliban officials told CBS News that an investigation was underway to determine who carried out the attack, which they believe may have targeted Haqqani, and to confirm how many people were victims of the blast. others were killed in the explosion.
Haqqani was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqanithe late founder of the famous Haqqani Network. The closely affiliated group has been responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban’s two-decade insurgency, following the 2001 U.S.-led invasion to overthrow the previous Taliban government. He was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, currently the Interior Minister of Afghanistan.
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After the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government in 2021, Khalil Haqqani was one of the few Taliban commanders to enter Kabul. Known for his commanding presence, he often carried his rifle during official meetings, even when meeting with other key figures in the group.
His death represents a major blow to the Taliban, particularly to the leaders of the Haqqani network. The Taliban and the Haqqani Network are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, and while they both overlap and hold key positions in the de facto regime that currently rules Afghanistan, they are also locked in their own struggle of internal power.
The American government had offered a $5 million reward to obtain information leading to the capture of Khalil Haqqani.
Violence has generally declined in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in the summer of 2021, when U.S. and NATO allied forces withdrew in a chaotic withdrawal that remains under review meticulous in Washington.
However, the regional branch of the ISIS terrorist group, ISIS-Khorasan, has remained active in Afghanistan and regularly targets both Taliban regime officials, civilians and foreign nationals. Their attacks are widely seen as an attempt to undermine Taliban rule.