ISLAMABAD (AP) — A suicide bombing within the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed the Taliban refugee minister and two others, officers mentioned, in essentially the most brazen assault on a member of the Taliban inside circle since they returned to energy three years in the past.
The explosion struck contained in the ministry, killing Khalil Haqqani, officers mentioned. His final official picture confirmed him at a gathering chaired by the deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, earlier Wednesday.
Khalil Haqqani is the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the performing inside minister who leads a robust community inside the Taliban.
Haqqani was essentially the most high-profile casualty of a bombing in Afghanistan because the Taliban returned to energy and the primary Cabinet member to be killed because the takeover. There was no rapid declare of duty for the blast.
The authorities’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, mentioned in a publish on X that Haqqani’s loss of life was an awesome loss and described him as a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.
Haqqani’s killing often is the greatest blow to the Taliban since their return to energy given his stature and affect, in line with Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute. It additionally comes at a time when the Taliban have staked their legitimacy on restoring peace after many years of battle, he added.
“The killing of a high Haqqani chief inside considered one of its personal ministries undercuts that core narrative,” he mentioned.
Former President Hamid Karzai and Haqqani’s nephew, Anas, additionally paid tribute to the minister. Taliban safety personnel blocked the highway resulting in the blast website and barred filming and pictures.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the killing as a “terrorist assault.”
“Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its kinds and manifestations,” Dar mentioned, including his authorities was in contact with Kabul to get additional particulars.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate, a significant rival of the ruling Taliban, has carried out earlier assaults throughout Afghanistan.
In early September, considered one of its suicide bombers in a southwestern Kabul neighborhood killed no less than six individuals, wounding 13 others.
But suicide assaults have turn out to be more and more uncommon since the Taliban seized energy in August 2021 and U.S. and NATO forces withdrew. Such assaults have largely focused minority Shiite Muslims, particularly within the capital.
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Crisis Group’s South Asia program, mentioned the timing of the assault was attention-grabbing because it got here days after Sirajuddin Haqqani gave a speech showing to criticize the Taliban chief for his authoritarian decision-making and lack of consensus constructing, particularly round extra controversial edicts on ladies and women.
While the timing might gas hypothesis that the suicide bombing was an inside job, Bahiss mentioned he didn’t anticipate a civil battle among the many Taliban.
“They don’t wish to wreck their maintain on energy. They are essentially the most unified political power in Afghanistan and have been in a position to handle their variations.”
Bahiss mentioned he anticipated an outpouring of sympathy and assist for Sirajuddin Haqqani and that this might present a possibility to strengthen the Haqqani community additional.
