It is a locator map for Afghanistan with its capital, Kabul.
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ISLAMABAD — A suicide bombing within the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed the Taliban refugee minister and two others, officers mentioned, in essentially the most brazen assault on a member of the Taliban interior circle since they returned to energy three years in the past.
The explosion struck contained in the ministry, killing Khalil Haqqani, officers mentioned. His final official picture confirmed him at a gathering chaired by the deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, earlier Wednesday.
Khalil Haqqani is the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the performing inside minister who leads a strong community inside the Taliban.
Haqqani was essentially the most high-profile casualty of a bombing in Afghanistan for the reason that Taliban returned to energy and the primary Cupboard member to be killed for the reason that takeover. There was no fast declare of duty for the blast.
The federal government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, mentioned in a submit on X that Haqqani’s loss of life was an ideal loss and described him as a tireless holy warrior who spent his life defending Islam.
Haqqani’s killing stands out as the largest blow to the Taliban since their return to energy given his stature and affect, in accordance with Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Middle’s South Asia Institute. It additionally comes at a time when the Taliban have staked their legitimacy on restoring peace after many years of battle, he added.
“The killing of a high Haqqani chief inside one in all its personal ministries undercuts that core narrative,” he mentioned.
Former President Hamid Karzai and Haqqani’s nephew, Anas, additionally paid tribute to the minister. Taliban safety personnel blocked the street resulting in the blast website and barred filming and pictures.
Pakistan’s Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the killing as a “terrorist assault.”
“Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its kinds and manifestations,” Dar mentioned, including his authorities was in contact with Kabul to get additional particulars.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate, a serious rival of the ruling Taliban, has carried out earlier assaults throughout Afghanistan.
In early September, one in all its suicide bombers in a southwestern Kabul neighborhood killed a minimum of six folks, wounding 13 others.
However suicide assaults have turn out to be more and more uncommon for the reason that Taliban seized energy in August 2021 and U.S. and NATO forces withdrew. Such assaults have principally focused minority Shiite Muslims, particularly within the capital.
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Disaster Group’s South Asia program, mentioned the timing of the assault was attention-grabbing because it got here days after Sirajuddin Haqqani gave a speech showing to criticize the Taliban chief for his authoritarian decision-making and lack of consensus constructing, particularly round extra controversial edicts on ladies and women.
Whereas the timing might gasoline hypothesis that the suicide bombing was an inside job, Bahiss mentioned he did not anticipate a civil battle among the many Taliban.
“They do not need to damage their maintain on energy. They’re essentially the most unified political pressure in Afghanistan and have been capable of handle their variations.”
Bahiss mentioned he anticipated an outpouring of sympathy and help for Sirajuddin Haqqani and that this might present a chance to strengthen the Haqqani community additional.
