Taliban Pay Homage to Suicide Bombers: Cash & Land Celebrations
In a ceremony that would make even the most seasoned diplomats blush, the Taliban’s interior ministry honored the dead fighters of a long‑running war against Afghanistan’s former government and its Western allies. Families were presented with pocket‑change and promises of land, while the organization publicly lauded the self‑sacrificing martyrs as heroes of Islam.
Who’s Leading The Show?
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the country’s interior minister and a charismatic—or at least confrontational—wildcard, took the mic at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. The venue, which had been hit by bombs in 2018, adds a touch of irony to the event. Haqqani, who faces a U.S. $10 million bounty as a “designated global terrorist,” keeps his face a mystery in all the official photos.
What the Families Got
- Clothing worthy of any leader’s wardrobe.
- 10,000 afghani (about S$149).
- Promised plots of land—so they can literally leave a ghost trail.
Spokesperson Qari Sayeed Khosti told the press that the “Jihad” and the sacrifices of the warriors were nothing short of heroic.
Why This Feels Like a “Perpetual Hotline”
Haqqani’s rise to power followed his father Jalaluddin Haqqani. The network is linked to some of the most blood‑thirsty attacks in the war. A lingering FBI pursuit ties Haqqani to a 2008 hotel bombing that left six dead—one of them an American citizen.
After the Taliban Took Over
With the Western‑backed government collapsing in August, the Taliban seized control. But the glory didn’t stop there: ruthless ISIS militants began planting suicide bombs at mosques and other targets—elevating the casualty toll and making the streets thunderous with new terror.
At the end of the day, the Taliban’s grand gesture sought to put a tourniquet on tears while celebrating sacrifice, a package that balances honor, reward, and a dash of political theater.
