Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani’s assassination occurred in one of his most secure locations, with trusted Zadran tribesmen guarding him.
The attack raises suspicions of possible internal involvement or security breaches within his circle.
However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, stated in a message that Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban Refugees Minister, was killed in an attack by “Khawarij” (referred to ISIS).
The ISIS-Khorasan branch, as an active terrorist group in Afghanistan, has repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks against high-ranking Taliban figures. The assassination of Mullah Dawood Muzammil, the Taliban governor of Balkh, and the killing of Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, the Taliban deputy governor of Badakhshan, are examples of such actions.
Regarding Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, although it is said that the Haqqani network maintains good relations with ISIS members, it is not unlikely that ISIS could have carried out this attack.
Mujahid, referring to the U.S. offer of a $5 million reward for Haqqani’s capture, mentioned that Haqqani was a prominent member of a large jihadist family, and the enemies of Islam had placed a bounty on his head.
He further remarked, “Today, he was martyred by the Khawarij, who claim to be Muslims while declaring other Muslims as apostates.”
The Taliban spokesperson emphasized that such cowardly acts would not weaken the resolve of Muslims nor help the conspirators achieve their evil goals against their Islamic system. Instead, he argued, such actions only darken the faces of the enemies of Islam and expose their malicious intentions.
At present, no group has claimed responsibility for Haqqani’s assassination, although the Taliban often refers to the terrorist group ISIS as the “Khawarij.”
However, it can be speculated that the assassination of Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani took place in one of the most secure locations under his supervision. His security detail consisted of trusted Zadran tribesmen, including all of his personal guards.
The high security measures at the ministry suggest that the attack was likely carried out by someone from his inner circle or with their cooperation, as breaching such security would be difficult otherwise.
This attack underscores the ongoing violence and instability in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s claims of controlling the country. The continued targeting of key figures within the Taliban government reflects the ongoing internal and external challenges the regime faces, particularly from extremist factions that reject its authority.
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