In a tragic incident, Taliban refugee minister Khalil Haqqani lost his life in a suicide bombing that took place inside the interior ministry in Kabul. The attack marked a significant blow to the Taliban, as Haqqani was one of their most high-profile leaders since the movement's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
According to sources from the interior ministry, the explosion claimed the lives of six others as Haqqani was exiting his office. Khalil Haqqani was a prominent figure in the Taliban, closely associated with the powerful Haqqani network. The United States had designated him as a global terrorist due to his influential role in the faction.
The Islamic State later claimed the moral responsibility for the attack. A report from Islamic State's Amaq platform stated that one of their militants had waited outside the minister's office and detonated the explosives as Haqqani stepped out.
The Taliban acknowledged Haqqani's death, with a spokesperson confirming that the attack was carried out by IS militants.
Khalil Haqqani belonged to a notable lineage within the Taliban leadership. His brother, Jalaluddin Haqqani, was a renowned guerrilla commander who resisted Soviet forces in the 1980s and founded the Haqqani network, which orchestrated numerous attacks during the Taliban's 20-year insurgency. Sirajuddin Haqqani, Khalil’s nephew and Jalaluddin’s son, currently serves as the Taliban government’s interior minister.
Despite an overall improvement in Afghanistan’s security landscape since the Taliban's full takeover in 2021, the nation continues to face regular bombings and suicide attacks. Many of these attacks have been attributed to Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional affiliate of IS and a staunch rival of the Taliban.
IS as a Major Rival
Afghanistan continues to grapple with the ongoing threat posed by the Islamic State (IS), an extremist group that has emerged as a formidable rival to the ruling Taliban. Despite the Taliban's claims of bringing stability to the war-torn nation following their return to power in August 2021, IS has executed a series of deadly attacks, challenging the regime's ability to maintain security and govern effectively.
The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional affiliate of IS, has positioned itself as one of the most significant security challenges in Afghanistan. With its anti-Taliban ideology and a history of violent insurgency, IS has orchestrated numerous high-profile attacks targeting both Taliban authorities and civilian infrastructure. The group's aim appears to be not only destabilizing the Taliban's governance but also asserting its own dominance in the region.