Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister for Refugees and a senior Taliban leader, was killed on Wednesday in a suicide bombing at the Ministry of Refugees headquarters in Kabul. The attack also claimed the lives of at least two of his colleagues, according to senior Taliban officials.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise to as many as ten as the investigation continues. The Taliban government has launched a probe into the incident, seeking to identify the perpetrators and uncover their motives.
Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the Haqqani network, and the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s current Interior Minister.
This bombing marks a major blow to the Taliban administration, raising concerns about the security of its leadership. Further details regarding the attack and the progress of the investigation are awaited.