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Afghanistan

Media reports Taliban government minister killed in Kabul blast

2024-12-12

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Khalil Haqqani, the Minister of Refugees in the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan (the organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities), was killed in an explosion in the building of the department he heads in Kabul. This was reported on December 12 by the Afghan news portal Tolo news, citing sources.

How exciting! Who dunnit?
“Sources close to the Taliban have confirmed the killing of the Minister of Refugees, Khalil Haqqani,” the portal’s Telegram channel says.

It is noted that several more people died as a result of the explosion.

As reported by Regnum News Agency, in April 2023, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Afghan authorities are pursuing a policy that helps strengthen security not only in the country but also in the region. According to him, there are no threats to Central Asian countries from Afghanistan.

What about from the jihadi groups they eagerly host, like Al Qaeda and Taliban Tehrik-i Pakistan (TTP)?

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 28 that Russia expects to develop relations with Afghanistan and the current Afghan leadership. The head of state added that complex processes are currently taking place in that country.

Russia has been saying so since shortly after the American-led Coalition pulled out. They haven’t yet done so, though, for some reason.
Local questions:

Who was behind the assassination of Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani?

[KhaamaPress] Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani’s assassination occurred in one of his most secure locations, with trusted Zadran tribesmen guarding him.

The attack raises suspicions of possible internal involvement or security breaches within his circle.

However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, stated in a message that Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban Refugees Minister, was killed in an attack by “Khawarij” (referred to ISIS).

Khawarij (Kharijites) is an ancient Arabic Moslem term for heretics, often used to describe Wahhabis and hence Al Qaeda and ISIS-linked jihadis.

The ISIS-Khorasan branch, as an active terrorist group in Afghanistan, has repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks against high-ranking Taliban figures. The assassination of Mullah Dawood Muzammil, the Taliban governor of Balkh, and the killing of Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, the Taliban deputy governor of Badakhshan, are examples of such actions.

Regarding Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, although it is said that the Haqqani network maintains good relations with ISIS members, it is not unlikely that ISIS could have carried out this attack.

Mujahid, referring to the U.S. offer of a $5 million reward for Haqqani’s capture, mentioned that Haqqani was a prominent member of a large jihadist family, and the enemies of Islam had placed a bounty on his head.

He further remarked, “Today, he was martyred by the Khawarij, who claim to be Muslims while declaring other Muslims as apostates.”

The Taliban spokesperson emphasized that such cowardly acts would not weaken the resolve of Muslims nor help the conspirators achieve their evil goals against their Islamic system. Instead, he argued, such actions only darken the faces of the enemies of Islam and expose their malicious intentions.

At present, no group has claimed responsibility for Haqqani’s assassination, although the Taliban often refers to the terrorist group ISIS as the “Khawarij.”

However, it can be speculated that the assassination of Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani took place in one of the most secure locations under his supervision. His security detail consisted of trusted Zadran tribesmen, including all of his personal guards.

The high security measures at the ministry suggest that the attack was likely carried out by someone from his inner circle or with their cooperation, as breaching such security would be difficult otherwise.

This attack underscores the ongoing violence and instability in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s claims of controlling the country. The continued targeting of key figures within the Taliban government reflects the ongoing internal and external challenges the regime faces, particularly from extremist factions that reject its authority.

Posted by:badanov

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