Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation and a senior member of the Haqqani Network, was killed in a suicide attack at the ministry’s building in Kabul. He was the only armed Taliban minister who attended all official and unofficial meetings with a gun. Some senior officials of the previous government described Haqqani’s death in the suicide attack as “martyrdom.” Still, a large number of citizens criticized this characterization and welcomed the death of the Haqqani Network member, who was accused of leading the network’s suicide battalions for over 20 years. Citizens have said that Haqqani’s death has brought some solace to the families of the victims. However, following his death, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture instructed domestic media outlets to use the term “martyrdom” instead of “death” in their reports about Haqqani. This directive prompted several media outlets to edit their published reports.
Some citizens linked Haqqani’s killing to internal rifts within the Taliban, referring to it as part of the “Emir and Caliph” power struggle between Hibatullah Akhundzada and Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Over the past two decades, the Haqqani Network has been responsible for numerous suicide attacks in Kabul and other provinces, resulting in hundreds of casualties, including women and children. Since their takeover of Afghanistan, the network has frequently glorified its suicide battalions and provided land and government resources to their families. Most recently, a senior member of this network, the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, known as the “Caliph of Suicide Bombers,” was killed in a suicide attack.
Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed in a suicide attack around noon on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the ministry’s headquarters. This attack occurred while Haqqani, known for always being armed even in formal meetings and for his distrust of his guards, was attending an official session. Hours after the attack, the Taliban released an image on social media purportedly of the suicide bomber, stating that the attacker had carried a metal rod and claimed to security guards that he had undergone hand surgery. During the official session, the attacker detonated his explosives.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, issued a statement declaring that Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed in a “brutal” attack by ISIS. He described Haqqani’s death as a “great loss” for the Taliban and emphasized that the incident would not weaken the group’s regime. Sirajuddin Haqqani and several other Taliban leaders praised Haqqani, stating that the attack would not deter their resolve.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture also ordered state-run and private media under its control to use the term “martyrdom” when referring to Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani’s death, explicitly forbidding the use of other terms. This directive led many domestic media outlets to rewrite and edit their reports, a move deemed unprecedented within local media, where it is uncommon to refer to victims of suicide or other attacks as “martyrs.”
Reactions to the Death of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani
The killing of this senior Taliban official has sparked reactions from several political activists and senior officials of previous Afghan governments. Some political activists welcomed his death, attributing the Haqqani Network to numerous suicide attacks that have left thousands of victims in Afghanistan. Many of these activists and civil society members shared the couplet: “Unjust blood does not let the killer go unpunished – You must have seen the stains on the butcher’s apron.”, implying that Haqqani’s death was a fitting end for him.
However, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the killing of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, referring to him as a “martyr.” Karzai described Haqqani as a member of a prominent Afghan jihadi family and emphasized his role in the fight against the former Soviet Union.
Similarly, Abdullah Abdullah, the former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation; Hamed Gilani, a jihadi leader; Omar Zakhilwal, the former finance minister; Jafar Mahdavi, a former member of parliament; and several other political figures also described Haqqani’s death as “martyrdom” and condemned the incident.
On the other hand, Zahir Aghbar, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, deleted a message he had posted condemning the killing of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani. In his original message, Aghbar had condemned the attack as “terrorist.” After deleting the post, he wrote, “The Taliban are reaping what they have sown.”
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, expressed his shock over the killing of the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation. He stated that Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Simultaneously, some social media users have attributed Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani’s death to internal rifts within the Taliban, suggesting that the Haqqani Network had grievances with directives issued by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban Supreme Leader. These users predicted that more Taliban figures might be killed in internal disputes. They pointed to the ongoing power struggles within the Taliban, particularly over control of the Haqqani Network, which has vast financial resources and deep ties with international terrorist groups.
Ali Sajad Mawlaee, a journalist, remarked: “The Game of Thrones: Emir 1, Caliph 0.”
Mohammad Haleem Fidai, the former governor of Logar Province, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “It appears that this action was either directly instructed by Mullah Hibatullah or at least carried out with his consultation and agreement. Through this act, Hibatullah seeks to send a clear message that he not only has the power to neutralize but also physically eliminate the Haqqani Network politically.”
Reception and Expression of Satisfaction Over the Death of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani
Some social media users, following the killing of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, have once again reminded the public of the victims of suicide attacks carried out by the Haqqani Network and expressed satisfaction over his death. By sharing images of the victims of suicide attacks for which the Haqqani Network claimed responsibility, they stated that they felt some relief with the death of this Taliban official.
Shahid Farhosh, a former journalist, shared a note by Zubair Hatami, a television cameraman who was a victim of a suicide attack and wrote about his memories of him, stating: “After nine years, I am so happy today. Do you know why? I am happy because on this very day, the day when they shed our blood and took you from us, I received the news of the death of one of your bloodthirstiest killers. The killer who yesterday was hiding in caves, plotting how to destroy the Zubairs of our homeland, was today killed by his own trap, his own barrel, and his own suicide bomber.”
Kalimullah Hamsukhan, a political activist, reacted to the killing of Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, writing: “Inshallah, the camel of sorrow will reach the middle of your homes, one by one. You were the cause and bearers of the sorrows that reached the homes of our defenseless people. Thousands of innocent citizens of our homeland have fallen victim to your lust for paradise, virgins, and young boys. Do you understand how it feels now? Was the attacker a suicide bomber, or do you call it a heroic martyrdom?”
Hasamuddin Anwari, a Facebook user, wrote: “Uncle Khalil went to heaven; may such departures bring blessings. He took the lives of thousands and made millions more homeless. He ruined four women’s lives (his fourth wife was a 21-year-old girl). He taught the shameful culture of suicide bombing to the poor, ignorant children of the East. Now, he has fallen into the trap of this cursed culture, and he’s gone—gone for good.”
Who Was Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani?
Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was born in 1966 in Paktia Province, in eastern Afghanistan. He was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior, and a senior member of the Haqqani Network. After the fall of the first Taliban regime, Haqqani was arrested in a joint operation by the United States and Pakistan. He was released after four years in exchange for the release of 350 Pakistani soldiers in the South Waziristan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, he was appointed as the Taliban’s Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, a position he held until his death. Haqqani always appeared armed at both official and unofficial meetings.
The United States had set a $5 million reward for his capture during its presence in Afghanistan. The U.S. has listed the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization. According to the federal “Rewards for Justice” website, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani “has been assisting Taliban members in Logar province, Afghanistan, since 2010.” In February 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” and imposed sanctions, declaring any financial dealings with him a “crime.”
Previously, Mohammad Dawood Muzammil, the Taliban governor of Balkh and a commander of the group was killed in a suicide attack in Balkh, for which ISIS claimed responsibility. As of the preparation of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
واکنشها به کشته شدن خلیلالرحمان حقانی؛ او در بازی تاجوتخت «امیر و خلیفه» قربانی شد | روزنامه ۸صبح
