Explosion in Afghanistan Kills Minister in Highest-Profile Blast Since Taliban’s Return

A suicide bombing in the Afghan capital on Wednesday killed the Taliban’s refugee minister and two others, Interior Ministry officials said.

The death of the minister, Khalil Haqqani, is the highest-profile casualty of a bombing in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power three years ago.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which officials said struck inside the ministry in Kabul. The officials provided no further details. They spoke on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Mr. Haqqani was the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister, who leads a powerful network within the Taliban.

An Islamic State affiliate — a major rival of the ruling Taliban — has carried out previous attacks across Afghanistan.

In early September, a suicide bomber in Kabul killed at least six people and wounded 13 others. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack.