• Source:JND
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Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban's acting minister for refugees, was killed in a blast in Kabul, confirmed by his nephew, Anas Haqqani, as reported by Reuters. Haqqani held his ministerial position after the Taliban's takeover in 2021 and was a senior leader of the Haqqani network, a militant faction responsible for several major attacks during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. The US State Department has long considered the Haqqani network a terrorist organisation.

"We lost a very brave Mujahid," Anas Haqqani told Reuters, using the Taliban's term for its fighters, meaning a holy warrior. "We will never forget him and his sacrifice."

According to a report by CBS News, a senior Taliban official confirmed that Khalil Haqqani, the acting Minister for Refugees, was killed in a suicide attack, along with at least four associates. The assailant, who disguised himself as a disabled visitor, targeted Haqqani as he was leaving his office to attend prayers. An official statement from the Taliban was expected soon.

Khalil Haqqani, born in 1966 in Afghanistan's Paktia province, was a key figure in the Haqqani network, a militant faction closely tied to the Taliban. He engaged in international fundraising for the Taliban, supported operations in Afghanistan, and aided al-Qaida forces in Paktia. 

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Haqqani also played a significant role in the detention of enemy prisoners and provided funding for Taliban operations, including in Logar Province in 2010. His activities have made him a prominent figure in the ongoing Afghan conflict.

The Haqqani network, founded by Khalil Haqqani's brother Jalaluddin, joined the Taliban in the mid-1990s. Khalil Haqqani is involved in fundraising for both the Taliban and Haqqani network, with financial backing from Gulf states and parts of South and East Asia. 

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He has also worked on behalf of Al-Qaida, aiding in military operations and sending reinforcements to their elements in Paktia Province. The UN has linked him to these activities, further designating him as a key figure in global terrorism.


(With inputs from Agency)