This is a locator map for Afghanistan with its capital, Kabul.
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ISLAMABAD — A suicide bombing within the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed the Taliban refugee minister and two others, officers mentioned, in probably the most brazen assault on a member of the Taliban internal 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 strong community inside the Taliban.
Haqqani was probably 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 fast declare of duty for the blast.
The authorities’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, mentioned in a submit on X that Haqqani’s dying was an excellent loss and described him as a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.
Haqqani’s killing will be the greatest blow to the Taliban since their return to energy given his stature and affect, in response to 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 a long time of conflict, he added.
“The killing of a high Haqqani chief inside one in every 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 web site and barred filming and images.
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, one in every of its suicide bombers in a southwestern Kabul neighborhood killed not less than six individuals, wounding 13 others.
But suicide assaults have grow to be more and more uncommon because 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 fascinating 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 girls and women.
While the timing might gas hypothesis that the suicide bombing was an inside job, Bahiss mentioned he did not count on a civil conflict among the many Taliban.
“They do not wish to wreck their maintain on energy. They are probably the most unified political drive in Afghanistan and have been in a position to handle their variations.”
Bahiss mentioned he anticipated an outpouring of sympathy and help for Sirajuddin Haqqani and that this might present a possibility to strengthen the Haqqani community additional.
