Afghan Taliban Minister Khalil Rahman Haqqani, six others killed in blast; all you need to know
Afghan Taliban Minister Killed: Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban's acting minister for refugees, was killed in a Kabul explosion along with six others. A senior leader of the Haqqani network, he was designated a terrorist by the U.S. Treasury in 2011.
Afghan Taliban Minister: At least seven people died in an explosion in Afghanistan's Kabul including Taliban's acting minister for refugees, Khalil Rahman Haqqani.
"We lost a very brave Mujahid," his nephew Anas Haqqani told Reuters, using the Taliban's term for its fighters, meaning a holy warrior. "We will never forget him and his sacrifice."
He said the blast took place as Khalil Haqqani was leaving a mosque after afternoon prayers. However, it was not immediately clear who was behind the blast.
Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister of neighbouring Pakistan, said in a statement he was "shocked" by the attack."Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," he said.
Khalil Haqqani became a minister in the Taliban's interim government following the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in 2021. The U.S. State Department identifies him as a senior leader of the Haqqani network, a militant group responsible for significant attacks during the 20-year conflict.
Taliban rule in Afghanistan
The Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021 as foreign forces withdrew, vowing to restore security, but attacks have continued in urban areas.
In 2022, a blast took place near the interior ministry, led by Haqqani network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, killing four people. In 2023, Islamic State claimed an attack outside the Taliban-run foreign ministry that killed at least five.
The U.S. Treasury classified Khalil Haqqani as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" in 2011 and the State Department offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
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Business NewsNewsIndiaAfghan Taliban Minister Khalil Rahman Haqqani, six others killed in blast; all you need to know
First Published:11 Dec 2024, 06:57 PM IST
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