Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Islamic Emirate's acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, was born in 1966 in the village of Kando in Gerda Serai district of Paktia province. At the age of nine, in 1975, due to political and military challenges, he was forced to leave his homeland and migrate to Pakistan.
Khalil Rahman Haqqani and his brother, Jalaluddin Haqqani, were senior members of the Islamic Emirate who played a significant role in the fight against the Soviet Union and coalition forces over the past few decades.
In 1980, under the leadership of his elder brother Jalaluddin Haqqani, Khalil Rahman began jihadist activities against Soviet forces, taking on a key role as a commander of heavy weaponry during the conflict.
In 2001, when the United States invaded Afghanistan, Khalil Rahman's home in Kabul was targeted by an airstrike. In 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department placed Khalil Rahman Haqqani on the blacklist, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to him.
"As far as I know, he consistently urged opponents of the government to return to the country, live in peace, and resolve their problems," Gulab Khan, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.
During the Islamic Emirate's return to power, Khalil Rahman Haqqani served as the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriations. Managing the response to the forced deportation of nearly 900,000 refugees from Pakistan and approximately 600,000 Afghan refugees from Iran was among his significant achievements.
On November 8, 2023, Khalil Rahman Haqqani stated: "Unfortunately, these individuals face many challenges. Most of those who have come from the other side complain about beatings and the seizure of their belongings and money. We are striving to provide them with work opportunities and facilitate their education."
In most of his speeches, Khalil Rahman Haqqani emphasized unity among the country's citizens, resolving the challenges of refugees in neighboring countries, and enforcing Islamic laws in Afghanistan. Resolving longstanding enmities was another significant aspect of Haqqani's efforts.
On October 21, he stated: "We must be united, and young people must strive to align their character and appearance with the principles of Sharia."
Khalil Rahman Haqqani also regarded the pursuit of contemporary sciences as a critical need for the country. At the inauguration of a school in Parwan, he remarked that the nation's progress and development depend on the acquisition of knowledge.
Khalil Rahman Haqqani was killed on November 11, 2024, in a suicide attack at the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in Kabul.