RASC News: Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister for Refugees, recently monitored the distribution of United Nations cash aid to returning migrants in Paktia province while carrying a weapon. According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriates, released on Wednesday, July 31, Haqqani visited Paktia to inspect the local Refugee and Repatriate Department and address public grievances.
Images from Haqqani’s visit to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ cash distribution event show him attending with a weapon and military vest, flanked by armed guards. Haqqani, a senior figure in the Haqqani Network and the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, is known for appearing at official events armed. This oversight by an armed Taliban official highlights the ongoing issue of improper conduct by Taliban officials with the public, despite three years of their rule.
Furthermore, the Taliban Ministry of Interior recently required all armed group members in both civilian and military roles to register for weapon permits. Reports indicate that some armed members have been involved in kidnappings and armed robberies since the Taliban’s ascension. The persistence of such issues underscores the ongoing impact of the Taliban’s two-decade history of contributing to national insecurity, leading to significant destruction and casualties, effects of which remain evident today.
