Big Targets

Afghanistan’s Minister for Refugees Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed in a suicide bombing in the capital Kabul Wednesday, the latest high-profile attack against Taliban officials more than three years after their return to power, CBS News reported.

Taliban officials said the assailant detonated an explosive device as Haqqani exited his office to attend prayers, killing him and four others. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) of orchestrating the attack.

Observers said the explosion underscored the Taliban’s ongoing security challenges as it governs Afghanistan amid internal power struggles and persistent violence.

ISIS-K, the regional branch of the Islamic State, has increasingly targeted Taliban officials, civilians, and foreign nationals since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, which has undermined the group’s claims of stability.

Haqqani’s death is a significant blow to the Taliban: A key figure in the regime, he was closely affiliated with the Haqqani network, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

The network is remembered for its violent tactics during the Taliban’s two-decade insurgency and has wielded considerable influence within the Taliban government.

Khalil Haqqani was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the group’s founder, and the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Interior Minister.

Meanwhile, as the Taliban grapples with ongoing security threats, Russia moved to formally remove the Islamist group from its list of terrorist organizations, Newsweek wrote.

A bill approved in the first reading by Russia’s lower house of parliament would allow courts to temporarily suspend terrorist designations upon request from the prosecutor general or their deputy.

Russia labeled the Taliban a terrorist group in 2003 but has engaged with Afghan officials since their return to power, citing regional stability as a priority.

Analysts explained that if the bill passes, it could pave the way for deeper cooperation between Moscow and the Taliban.