On Monday, a suicide bomber blew himself up in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killing six people and wounding another 13, according to local police. The deadly attack represents a violent uptick in a country otherwise filled with relatively calm days since the Taliban took over in 2021.
Details of the Attack: The blast occurred in Qala-e-Bakhtiar, on the southern fringes of Kabul.
Police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed the incident: “A person blew himself up, wearing explosives on his body,” thus bringing about the tragic loss of lives, one of them a woman. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the presence of numerous militant groups-a regional chapter of the Islamic State included-remains a concern. Previously, this group has been involved in similar attacks, contesting the Taliban’s effort to secure the country.
Background and Context: There has been a notable decrease in violence within Afghanistan since the Taliban took over power following the chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021, yet the threat from militant groups has not been completely eradicated. The last suicide attack in Afghanistan, carried out by the regional chapter of the Islamic State, occurred in March in the city of Kandahar, where conflicting reports showed different death tolls.
The Taliban leadership has, time and again, maintained security atop of its priorities and has initiated massive operations to subdue the militant element. Incidents are taking place, yet, which demonstrates the effectiveness of their security measures.
The Taliban government has minimized the existence of such groups as the Islamic State, through its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who says they have been “suppressed very hard.” That is in contrast to the assurance Mujahid gave late last month that no groups exist in Afghanistan that pose any sort of imminent threat. Lately, that assurance has been put to test in Kabul.
The suicide bomb that exploded in Kabul on Monday highlighted the security challenges still prevalent under Afghanistan’s Taliban government. Though the Taliban has reduced overall violence, the continuous presence and acts of the militant groups raised a question over the stability of the country. How the Taliban respond to such incidents would be under observation by both domestic and international observers as the situation develops.
