Taliban Leader Haqqani Praises Afghanistan Suicide Bomber, His Family Is Given IDR 1.7 Million Prize

JAKARTA - Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani invited the heirs of the suicide bombers at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul last week. The Minister of Home Affairs praised their sacrifice and labeled them as heroes of Islam and the state.

Quoted from The Independent, Wednesday 27 October, Sirajuddin Haqqani praised the Afghan suicide bombers who died during the war against the former US-backed government. He also offered cash and land to their families.

Haqqani - this media report - distributed USD 125 or approximately IDR 1.77 million to relatives of the dead bomber. He also promised them a piece of land.

"In his speech, the minister praised Jihad and the sacrifices of the martyrs and Mujahideen and called them heroes of Islam and the state," an interior ministry spokesman said on Twitter.

"Now you and I must refrain from betraying the aspirations of our martyrs," interior ministry spokesman Saeed Khosty said, quoting Haqqani.

Quoted from the FBI's official website, Sirajuddin Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, which killed six people, including an American citizen. He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Haqqani is also suspected of involvement in planning an assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008.

There was a US State Department reward of USD 10 million for information leading directly to the arrest of Sirajuddin Haqqani.