‘Heroes of Islam and of the country’: Taliban regime rewards relatives of suicide bombers with land and money

Suicide bombers who killed U.S. military and Afghan civilians are glorified by the Taliban regime and called “heroes of Islam.” Moreover, their relatives are rewarded by the terrorist group with cash payments and land donations.

Just when it appeared that the Taliban regime was undertaking efforts to enlist international support, new reports emerged from within the terrorist camp reporting the rewarding of relatives of suicide bombers. 

The Taliban’s own acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, reportedly offered the reward to dozens of the terrorists’ relatives gathered at a Kabul hotel. Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosty tweeted on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Addressing the gathering Monday night, Haqqani praised the sacrifices of the ‘martyrs,’ referring to fighters killed in suicide attacks, AP News reported.

At the end of the meeting, he distributed $112 per family and promised each a plot of land, official spokesman Khosty said.

The news came after several representatives from different countries had contacted and negotiated with Taliban authorities during the last few weeks. The news came as a surprise to the international community. It is understood as an act of defiance and rebellion to present the terrorist murderers of military and civilians as heroes.

The Taliban’s high-profile meetings with foreign officials have focused on obtaining aid for impoverished Afghans. Specialists predict that virtually the entire Afghan population will fall into poverty due to a severe economic crisis.

The Taliban have exerted pressure for international aid by threatening that a massive wave of Afghan refugees will begin if they do not receive assistance.

Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met for the first time with Western diplomats on Saturday, Oct. 9, in Doha. He said that “weakening the Afghan government should not be in anyone’s interest because its negative effects will directly affect the world in the country’s security sector and economic migration,” as published in a statement last week. 

In addition to the country’s dictatorial situation, there is a deep humanitarian crisis resulting from a crumbling and completely underfunded economy, which is further aggravated by the internal conflict with the rival extremist group known as ISIS Khorasan group.

Banks are already running out of cash, no foreign currency is coming in from abroad, and ruling officials are reportedly not receiving their agreed salaries, which may weaken the de facto government. 

According to his spokesman’s statement, Muttaqi told the Doha meeting, “We urge the countries of the world to end existing sanctions and allow banks to operate normally so that charity groups, organizations and the government can pay salaries to their staff from their own reserves and international finances.”

In this chaotic context, the promise of rewards for suicide bombings indicates a contradictory approach within the Taliban leadership. In contrast, they try to position themselves as responsible rulers, promising security for all, even condemning suicide attacks by their rivals, the militant group Islamic State. But, on the other hand, they praise such tactics when it comes to their followers.