Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting Minister for Refugees and a senior leader of the powerful Haqqani network, was killed in a suicide bombing on Wednesday in the Afghan capital, Kabul. 

The attack, which also claimed the lives of six others, was carried out by the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional affiliate of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

The bombing took place inside the Ministry of Refugees compound. Khalil’s nephew, Anas Haqqani told Reuters that the explosion occurred as Khalil was leaving a mosque after afternoon prayers. Six other victims were reported dead, according to the report.

Anas described his uncle as “a very brave Mujahid,” using the Taliban’s term for its fighters, and vowed that his sacrifice would not be forgotten.

In a statement, the Taliban condemned the attack, describing ISIS as a “faction that deceitfully professes Islam while declaring other Muslims to be infidels.”

The Taliban leadership vowed to investigate the attack and enhance security measures to prevent further incidents of this nature.

The ISKP, which claimed responsibility for the bombing, has been a major rival of the Taliban since its emergence in Afghanistan, with ISKP frequently carrying out attacks in urban centers, targeting both Taliban officials and civilians.

Khalil, believed to be in his 50s, was a high-ranking figure within the Haqqani network, a militant faction operating under the Taliban umbrella. 

The Haqqani network, founded by Khalil’s brother Jalaluddin Haqqani in the 1980s, gained notoriety during the Soviet-Afghan War and was later implicated in some of the most devastating attacks against coalition forces during the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. 

In 2011, the U.S. designated Khalil as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. He was also sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council for his involvement in terrorist activities.