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IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing Killing Afghan Refugee Minister Khalil Rahman Haqqani

Dec 12, 2024, 10:53 AM

Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the acting refugee minister of Afghanistan's Taliban government, was killed in a suicide bombing attack in Kabul, claimed by the Islamic State group (IS). The attack, which targeted Haqqani as he was leaving a mosque, also resulted in the deaths of three other individuals accompanying him. This incident marks the first attack on a Taliban minister since the group regained power in 2021. The United Nations, European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism. The Taliban authorities have struggled to contain IS, despite claiming to have suppressed the group's activities within the country. The funeral for Haqqani was held under tight security in Paktia province, reflecting the ongoing security concerns in the region.