Islamic State Takes Responsibility for Deadly Suicide Attack on Afghan Minister
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Kabul, Dec 12 (NationPress) The militant organization Islamic State (IS) has announced its responsibility for a suicide bombing that claimed the life of Afghanistan's acting minister for refugees and repatriation on Wednesday.
An IS militant triggered his explosive vest, leading to the death of Khalil Rahman Haqqani along with several of his associates and bodyguards, according to a report from the IS-affiliated news outlet 'Amaq'.
Four individuals, including Haqqani, lost their lives, while four others, comprising Haqqani's guards, sustained critical injuries as a result of the attack, as reported by an official from the Afghan Ministry of Interior to Xinhua news agency.
Haqqani marks the first cabinet official to be killed since the Afghan caretaker government assumed power in 2021.
"We have received the tragic news that the minister of refugees, Khalil Rahman Haqqani, was martyred this afternoon in a vicious assault by the Khawarij (enemy)," stated Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior.
"Haqqani hailed from a prominent jihadi family. The enemies of Islam had placed a 5-million-US dollar bounty on his head," the statement further noted.
In response to the attack, security forces have cordoned off all access points to the ministry, enforcing strict regulations in the area.
Born in Paktia Province in 1966, Khalilur Rahman Haqqani and his brother Jalaluddin Haqqani were influential figures in the Islamic forces that significantly contributed to the struggle against the former Soviet Union and coalition troops over the past forty years.
According to political analyst Rohullah Hotak, "His contributions to Afghanistan's history, particularly his involvement in the jihad, his commendable efforts in repatriating Afghan refugees, and his commitment to strengthening the Islamic system, render individuals like him exceedingly rare in Afghanistan."
As per local media reports, the last official meeting attended by Khalil Rahman Haqqani was the Economic Commission gathering at the Prime Minister’s Office.
