IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing in Southern Afghanistan

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Facts

  • Amaq, the news agency linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS), has reported that the militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar that targeted the Taliban.1
  • According to local sources, at least 27 people were killed and 43 others wounded after a bomber detonated explosives among civilians in front of the New Kabul Bank branch in the city on Thursday.2
  • Several members of the Taliban are said to be among the victims, as they were reportedly gathered at the bank to collect their salaries that morning.3
  • Kandahar, the historical birthplace of the ruling Taliban group, has been considered a de facto capital, as the Taliban's supreme leader has sought to tighten his grasp on power amid reported infighting with Kabul ministers.4
  • This comes as several blasts have been reported across Afghanistan since the Muslim holy month of Ramadan started on March 11, though Taliban-appointed officials have only confirmed a minority of these.5
  • This is the second deadliest security incident or bombing in the country since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, when a regional affiliate of the IS was responsible for the killing of over 70 people in an attack targeting Kabul airport that year.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Amu TV, 3The New York Times, 4RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 5Al Jazeera and 6KabulNow.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by DAWN. This tragic attack renews calls for dialogue and cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan to address the issue of terrorism — a shared concern — in all its forms and manifestations. The ruling Afghan Taliban, however, has armed terrorists and offered them safe haven to attack Pakistan instead. Hopefully, they will now understand that such actions can only deteriorate regional security.
  • Narrative B, as provided by The Sunday Guardian. Pakistan has blood on its hands, as the country has supported the once-defeated Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) to create instability in Afghanistan. Though Islamabad urges the Taliban to join collective efforts against terrorism, the Pakistani government actually shelters terrorists and uses them to launch attacks against its neighbor.

Predictions