The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a horrific attack in central Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals. This assault, which occurred on Thursday, is one of the deadliest incidents in the country this year. The victims were members of the Hazara community, a Shiite minority group, who were traveling between the provinces of Ghor and Daikundi. The attack also left six other people injured.
The Islamic State's claim of responsibility came before the Taliban authorities in Kabul had officially acknowledged the attack. According to the militant group, its fighters employed a machine gun during the assault and asserted that the true death toll was higher than the figures reported by the Taliban. This assertion underscores the ongoing and violent rivalry between the Islamic State’s affiliates in Afghanistan and the Taliban, with the former frequently challenging the latter's control through brutal acts of violence.
The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that the gunmen targeted individuals who were welcoming Afghan Shiites returning from religious pilgrimages to Iraq. This information was confirmed by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, who called for immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes.
The Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan has been a persistent and deadly adversary of the Taliban. Over the past three years, this group has targeted a range of institutions, including schools, hospitals, mosques, and Shiite communities, in a bid to undermine the Taliban’s authority and spread its extremist ideology.
In the wake of the attack, mourners in the village of Bandar in Daikundi province gathered around the bodies of the victims, which were laid out and covered in colorful fabrics. The scene was one of profound grief and anger as relatives expressed their dismay over the government's failure to ensure their safety and prevent such atrocities. Reza Ali, a relative of one of the victims, voiced his concern about the overall security situation and the government's inability to protect civilians from such attacks.
The Taliban's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "barbaric action." He assured that the Taliban authorities would work diligently to protect people and their property and that serious efforts would be made to locate and bring the attackers to justice.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan extended its condolences to the families of those killed and called for a thorough investigation into the attack. Richard Bennett, a UN-appointed rights expert for Afghanistan, expressed alarm over the increasing number of attacks claimed by the Islamic State. He described the violence against the Shiite Hazaras as "appalling" and noted that it bore the hallmarks of international crimes. Bennett, however, has been barred from entering Afghanistan by the Taliban, complicating international efforts to address and mitigate the crisis.
Hazaras, who make up around 9% of Afghanistan's population, are predominantly Shiite Muslims and have long been targets of persecution by Sunni extremist groups like the Islamic State. The attack against them highlights the severe sectarian tensions within Afghanistan and underscores the challenges faced by both the Afghan government and the international community in combating extremism and ensuring the safety and security of minority communities.
Â
