One killed and three others suffered injuries in a suicide attack on Afghan ministry of urban development and housing on Thursday.
“The suicide attacker wanted to enter the ministry and one of the mujahideen (security forces) shot him and then in the result of the explosion another person near him was killed and three injured,” interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani told AFP.
Although violence in Afghanistan has significantly decreased since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021, the Islamic State (IS) group continues to launch deadly attacks challenging their rule. IS has previously targeted Taliban officials, foreign diplomats, and civilians in Afghanistan.
A doctor at Kabul’s Emergency Hospital, speaking anonymously, said that “five to six injured” individuals had been brought to the facility for treatment. However, official casualty figures often differ from those reported by medical personnel on the ground.
IS involvement suspected
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday’s attack, but IS has a history of carrying out high-profile bombings in Afghanistan. In December, the group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban government’s minister for refugees, inside his Kabul office. Just a day before Thursday’s attack, IS also claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on a northern Afghan bank, which left eight people dead. The attack specifically targeted Taliban employees collecting their salaries.
IS-Khorasan, the Afghan chapter of the Islamic State founded in 2015, has been behind some of the deadliest attacks in the country. The group gained global attention in August 2021 when it bombed Kabul airport during the chaotic US evacuation, killing around 170 Afghans and 13 American service members.
Taliban’s security challenges
Since taking power, the Taliban government has declared security its highest priority, claiming success in curbing IS activities through an extensive crackdown. However, IS remains a persistent threat, continuing to target government officials and civilians alike.
Security forces frequently seal off attack sites, making independent verification of casualty figures difficult. The Taliban maintains that its counterterrorism measures have weakened IS, but Thursday’s bombing highlights the ongoing security challenges the administration faces.