Khalil Haqqani | |
|---|---|
خلیلالرحمن حقاني | |
| ActingMinister of Refugee and Repatriation | |
| In office 7 September 2021 – 11 December 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Hasan Akhund |
| Supreme Leader | Hibatullah Akhundzada |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Kabir |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. February 1966 |
| Died | 11 December 2024(2024-12-11) (aged 57–58) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Manner of death | Assassination bybombing |
| Political party | Taliban |
| Relations |
|
| Alma mater | Darul Uloom Haqqania |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) |
| Branch/service |  Haqqani network |
| Years of service | until 2021 |
| Rank |
|
| Commands | Chief of security forKabul (10 August 2021 – 7 September 2021) |
| Battles/wars | |
Khalil Rahman Haqqani[a] (c. February 1966[b] – 11 December 2024) was an Afghan politician and military leader. APashtunmujahideen commander, he was designatedSpecially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States.
Haqqani had been the actingMinister of Refugee and Repatriation in the internationally unrecognizedTaliban regime since 7 September 2021.[2][3][4] He was a prominent member of the insurgentHaqqani network.[5]
Haqqani was killed by asuicide bomber on 11 December 2024. TheIslamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility.[6]
Haqqanis date and place of birth is most likely to be in February 1966[7] in thePaktia Province of Afghanistan[8] although theRewards for Justice Program stated that Haqqani may have been born between 1958 and 1964.[8] He belonged to theZadran tribe of ethnicPashtuns. During theAfghan War, Haqqani engaged in internationalfundraising for theTaliban and supported Taliban operations in Afghanistan.[8] In 2002, he deployed men under his charge to reinforceal-Qaida in Paktia Province.[8] In 2009, he aided in the detention of enemy prisoners captured by the Haqqani network and the Taliban.[8] In 2010, he provided funding to the Taliban inLogar Province of Afghanistan.[8] Haqqani also carried out orders from his nephew,Sirajuddin Haqqani, a leader of the Haqqani network who was designated a terrorist in March 2008 underExecutive Order 13224.[8]
On 9 February 2011, theUnited States Department of the Treasury designated Khalil Haqqani aSpecially Designated Global Terrorist underExecutive Order 13224[9] and offered a US$5 millionbounty for him as one their most wanted terrorists.[10][8] He was listed with the title of aHaji and supposed to be residing inPeshawar,Miram Shah,North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan and in Paktia Province of Afghanistan.[11]
On 9 February 2011, theUnited Nations added Khalil Haqqani to the 1988 Sanctions List (TAi.150), pursuant to paragraph 2 of resolution 1904 (2009), for association withal-Qaeda,Osama bin Laden or the Taliban for "participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of" or "otherwise supporting acts or activities of" the Taliban.[12]
The Haqqani network was founded by Khalil Haqqani's brotherJalaluddin Haqqani. In the mid-1990s they joinedMullah Omar's Taliban regime.[12] The UN determined that Khalil Haqqani engaged in fundraising activities on behalf of the Taliban and the Haqqani network and conducted international travel to obtain financial supporters.[12] As of September 2009, Haqqani obtained financial support from theArab states of the Persian Gulf and from sources in South Asia and East Asia.[12] In addition, he acted on behalf of Al-Qaida and was associated with their military operations, including the deployment of reinforcements to Al-Qaida elements in Paktia Province.[12]
In August 2021, after thefall of Kabul, Haqqani was placed in charge of security forKabul during the transition of power.[5][13] On 7 September 2021, Khalil Haqqani was appointed Minister of Refugees for theIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the internationally unrecognizedTaliban regime.[14]
On 11 December 2024, asuicide bomber killed Haqqani and five others at his ministry office inKabul.[15][16]The Washington Post described it as the most significant death among the Taliban leadership since themilitary takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.[17]
Haqqani was buried inPaktia on 12 December 2024. The funeral, which was attended by thousands of people, took place amid strict security measures.[18][19]
TheIslamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP) later claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a report issued by IS's news outletAmaq, an IS-KP militant waited outside the minister's office and detonated explosives as he walked out.[20]
