Thousands of mourners gathered in Garda Serai, Afghanistan, for the funeral of Khalil Haqqani, the minister for refugees and repatriation, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, also resulted in the deaths of five others. Haqqani, a high-profile Cabinet member, was the most significant casualty in the country since the Taliban took control three years ago.
Haqqani, who was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister and a prominent Taliban leader, was laid to rest in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province. The funeral was attended by top-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir, amidst tight security measures.
The Islamic State Khorasan Province, an affiliate of the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. According to their statement, the attacker targeted Haqqani as he was leaving his office, detonating the bomb at that moment. However, a local official provided a different account, stating that the assailant managed to bypass security measures by falsely claiming to have metal plates in his hands and identifying himself as a refugee.
The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan have both condemned the attack, emphasizing the need to combat terrorism for regional stability. The incident marks a rare occurrence of a suicide bombing since the Taliban's rise to power in 2021, with such attacks previously targeting minority groups, particularly Shiite Muslims.
The funeral proceedings were somber, with armed guards protecting Haqqani's coffin draped in the Taliban flag. Eulogies were broadcast over loudspeakers as attendees paid their respects to the late minister known for his compassion towards refugees and individuals with disabilities.
