GARDA SERAI, Afghanistan — On Thursday, a large funeral was held for a Taliban minister who lost his life in a suicide bombing in Kabul, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. Thousands gathered in Paktia province to pay their respects to Khalil Haqqani, the minister for refugees and repatriation, making him the highest-profile victim of violence in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control three years ago.
Haqqani was killed in an explosion on Wednesday at his ministry in Kabul, along with five others. He was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who holds the position of acting interior minister and leads a significant faction within the Taliban. Both men are targets of a bounty set by the United States for their involvement in militant activities.
The funeral was marked by strict security measures to safeguard high-ranking officials present, including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir. Armed guards were stationed near the coffin, which was draped in the Taliban flag, while loudspeakers broadcast memorial speeches and eulogies. Media representatives, both local and international, were permitted to cover the proceedings in the Garda Serai district of Paktia.
Sirajuddin Haqqani led the mourners in prayer against a backdrop of imposing mountains. He expressed his sorrow that the individual responsible for the bombing had not viewed his uncle as an enemy of non-Muslims. “The Americans offered a $5 million reward for information on him,” he remarked. “He was not an enemy of Muslims. How can such a heinous act be celebrated as a victory?”
The Islamic State Khorasan Province, an offshoot of the larger Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement released by Amaq News Agency. According to their account, a fighter waited for Haqqani to exit his office before triggering the explosion.
However, a local official, speaking anonymously due to constraints on media discussions, provided a different perspective on the incident. The official alleged that the assailant managed to enter the ministry building, even after activating an alarm on a body scanner, by claiming he had metal implants in his hands and was a refugee. The official noted that Haqqani was known for accommodating refugees and those with disabilities, often offering them time to discuss their challenges.
The attack occurred as Haqqani was approaching the ministry following a prayer session in the mosque located within its premises, according to the official’s account. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan promptly condemned the bombing, emphasizing that “there can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability” in a statement on social media.
The government of neighboring Pakistan also expressed its dismay over the tragedy. Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, conveyed solidarity through a post on social media, reiterating Pakistan’s resolve to work alongside Afghanistan in countering the “menace of terrorism.”
Although the Islamic State affiliate has staged various attacks across Afghanistan, suicide bombings have become less frequent since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after two decades of conflict. These attacks have primarily targeted the minority Shiite community, particularly in the capital.
