The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing that targeted a Taliban government ministry in Kabul, resulting in one fatality and injuring at least three others. The incident occurred on Thursday when a suicide attacker attempted to breach the Afghan Ministry of Urban Development and Housing. According to Taliban government interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani, the assailant was shot by guards as he approached the ministry, prompting him to detonate his explosive vest.
Initial reports indicated one person was killed and three others were wounded; however, Kabul’s Emergency Hospital later revised the casualty figures, noting one death and five injuries, with four of the wounded classified as critically injured. The attack took place at approximately 9:30 am local time.
In a statement translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, the Islamic State proclaimed that the suicide bomber had targeted “multiple officials and guards” within what they referred to as the headquarters of the “apostate Taliban militia.” This assault is part of a series of violent actions attributed to the militants since the Taliban’s resurgence to power in 2021, despite an overall decrease in violence across the country.
Earlier in the week, the Islamic State also asserted responsibility for an attack on a bank in northern Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals. This attack specifically targeted Taliban government employees who were in the process of collecting their salaries.
Following their takeover, the Taliban government has prioritized security, and analysts suggest that their stringent measures have been effective in suppressing the activities of the Islamic State. Nevertheless, the militant group continues to pose a significant threat, focusing its attacks on Taliban officials, foreign visitors, and international diplomats.
Historically, the Islamic State has been responsible for high-profile attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister for refugees, in December 2022. Additionally, a separate attack earlier this year near the Taliban’s fortified foreign ministry led to the deaths of six civilians, further exemplifying the ongoing violence orchestrated by IS.
A recent UN Security Council report highlighted the Islamic State as the “most serious threat” to the current authorities in Afghanistan, as well as to various ethnic and religious communities, foreign nationals, and international representatives operating within the country.
