The Taliban have reportedly promised plots of land and given money to the relatives of suicide bombers who attacked U.S. soldiers.
“Addressing the gathering Monday evening, [Taliban’s acting interior minister] praised the sacrifices of ‘martyrs and fedayeen,’ referring to fighters killed in suicide attacks,” The Associated Press reported. “Haqqani called them ‘heroes of Islam and the country,’ according to [Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosty]. At the end of the meeting, he distributed 10,000 afghanis ($112) per family and promised each a plot of land.”
“The promise of rewards for suicide bombings signals conflicting approaches within the Taliban leadership,” the report added. “They are trying to position themselves as responsible rulers, who promise security for all and have condemned suicide attacks by their rivals, the militant Islamic State group. On the other hand, they praise such tactics when it comes to their followers… Suicide bombings and roadside explosives were tactics used by the Taliban to wear down Afghan and U.S. forces throughout their 20-year insurgency.”
The news comes a week after the Biden administration reportedly agreed to provide humanitarian aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
“The U.S. has agreed to provide humanitarian aid to a desperately poor Afghanistan on the brink of an economic disaster, while refusing to give political recognition to the country’s new Taliban rulers,” the Associated Press reported. “The statement came at the end of the first direct talks between the former foes since the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of August.”
