A suicide bomber detonated explosives near Afghanistan’s foreign ministry in Kabul, killing six civilians and wounding several others. This is the second attack near the ministry this year, and no group has claimed responsibility yet.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE SUICIDE ATTACKER
According to Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran, the attacker was identified at a security checkpoint near the ministry. However, the explosives he carried detonated and killed six civilians and wounded several others. Zadran did not name the target, but the blast occurred in a busy downtown area near a checkpoint that guards a heavily fortified street that houses several government buildings, including the foreign ministry.
TALIBAN SECURITY FORCES AMONG THE WOUNDED
Zadran stated that at least three Taliban security force members were among the wounded. A hospital run by an Italian NGO said that it received some patients at its surgical center in the capital city of Kabul, which specializes in treating victims of Afghanistan’s long war. The NGO also reported that at least one child was among the injured.
RECENT ATTACKS IN KABUL
Kabul and other urban areas have been hit by attacks in recent months, some of which have been claimed by ISIS. Earlier this month, the Taliban governor of Afghanistan’s Balkh province was killed in a suicide attack claimed by the ISIL armed group. In January, a blast killed at least five people and injured dozens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as employees streamed out of the building at the end of their work day. The ISIL group has also claimed responsibility for other recent attacks in Kabul, including a bombing near a checkpoint at the city’s military airport that killed and wounded several people, as well as an assault on a Kabul hotel in mid-December.
TALIBAN’S FOCUS ON SECURING THE COUNTRY
The Taliban administration has stated that it is focused on securing the country and has carried out several raids against suspected ISIL members in recent weeks. However, attacks like this raise concerns about the security situation in the region.
Monday’s incident took place around lunchtime, a time when the city is especially crowded, as government office staff leaves early for the day during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Local media reported that all routes leading to the blast scene were cordoned off by police. As Afghanistan continues to face security challenges, it is imperative that the government takes necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens.
