Taliban promise cash, land to families of suicide bombers who attacked US and Afghan soldiers

The Taliban have promised relatives of suicide bombers who attacked U.S. and Afghan soldiers land and cash reward, The Associated Press reports. 

Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosty tweeted on Tuesday that the Taliban’s acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, offered the incentives to dozens of family members of bombers gathered at a Kabul hotel.

On Twitter, Haqqani said that the “suicide bombers are the heroes of the homeland,” the spokesperson said.

“In his speech, the minister praised the Jihad and sacrifices of the martyrs and Mujahidin and called them heroes of Islam and the country,” the Taliban government said in a statement on Twitter, Reuters reported. 

“[Haqqani] told everyone about the memories of the martyred and their piety & deeds. He called them heroes of the believing nation,” Khosty tweeted.

“Now you & I must refrain from betraying the aspirations of our martyrs,” Haqqani was quoted as saying b

He distributed 10,000 afghanis, or about $112, per family and promised them a plot of land.

Haqqani is considered a “specially designated global terrorist” by the U.S., and the Department of State is currently offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading directly to his arrest.

“Sirajuddin Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen. He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan,” the “most wanted” section of the FBI website said.

Earlier this month, Biden administration officials held their first face-to-face meeting with Taliban leaders since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in late August.

“The discussions were candid and professional with the U.S. delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

In August, the Taliban vowed to respect women’s rights, forgive those who fought them and ensure Afghanistan will not become a haven for terrorists in a bid to win global support for their new government from world leaders.