Increasing Violence in Afghanistan: Taliban Ministry Targeted by Suicide Bombing
A suicide bombing targeting the Taliban-led Ministry for Urban Development in Kabul resulted in two fatalities and three injuries. The attack took place around noon local time on February 13, with Taliban authorities confirming that the attacker was among those killed in the incident. Mohammad Kamal, a spokesman for the Taliban's Urban Development Ministry, reported that the bomber was neutralized at the ministry's entrance.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for this latest attack. However, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK), known for its extreme opposition to the Taliban, has recently claimed credit for another violent incident. On February 11, a suicide bombing outside a bank in Kunduz claimed the lives of at least eight individuals, with ISK stating that Taliban government employees were the target while they were collecting their salaries.
This marks a troubling surge in violence attributed to ISK, which has been actively targeting Afghanistan's Shiite minority and followers of moderate Sufi sects. The group has gained notoriety for carrying out attacks both domestically and internationally. In December 2022, a suicide bomber from ISK killed Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, a prominent Taliban minister, marking a significant incident since the Taliban regained power in August 2021. The attack resulted in five additional casualties within the refugee ministry compound in Kabul.
In light of ISK's escalating threat, the United Nations Security Council classified the group as a major risk to global security during a meeting on February 10. Dorothy Shea, the interim U.S. Ambassador to the UN, expressed ongoing concern regarding ISK's capability to plan and conduct attacks while sustaining recruitment efforts particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Although the Taliban promised security upon their return to power, they have struggled to eliminate ISK's influence. In response to rising violence, the Taliban has conducted severe crackdowns on ISK, claiming the detention or killing of numerous members. However, criticisms have arisen from Afghanistan's small Salafist community, who allege they have been unfairly targeted in the Taliban's efforts to combat ISK.
ISK emerged in 2015 as the local affiliate of the Islamic State, which previously controlled large territories in Syria and Iraq. The ongoing violence demonstrates the complex security landscape in Afghanistan, as the Taliban grapples with maintaining control amid the persistent threat from rival extremist factions.
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