IS-K Bombing Attack in Afghanistan... Over 10 Casualties Reported

Series of Bomb Attacks in Kabul... Casualties Continue to Rise
IS-K Activity Across Afghanistan... Concerns Over Expanding Terror Damage

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A series of bomb attacks carried out by IS-K, the Afghan branch of the Sunni extremist terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), occurred in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, resulting in over 10 civilian casualties. IS-K has significantly expanded its activities since the Taliban's reoccupation of Afghanistan and is currently active throughout the country, raising concerns that future terrorist damages may increase further.

According to Afghan TOLOnews on the 18th, two bomb attacks occurred the previous afternoon in a Shia residential area in Kabul. In the Dasht-e-Barchi area in western Kabul, a bomb attack targeted a minivan carrying civilians. The bomb attached to the van exploded, causing a large blast and killing pedestrians as well. Witnesses at the scene reported that 4 people died and 2 were injured.

Kari Sayyed Hosti, spokesperson for the Taliban government's Ministry of Interior, stated, "One person lost their life and six were injured." Later, another Taliban official said that 7 people died and 9 were injured in the explosion, indicating that the number of victims was increasing as the accident site was being secured. Immediately after the bomb attack, a similar bomb attack targeting another minivan occurred in a nearby area, killing 1 person and injuring 2. Taliban authorities have dispatched security personnel to the scene and have begun an investigation.

After the terrorist attack, IS-K claimed responsibility through its official Telegram channel. IS-K asserted that it "killed or injured more than 20 apostates." IS-K, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State (IS), was formed in 2015 and has recently expanded its activities across Afghanistan by taking advantage of the chaos following the Taliban's overthrow of the Afghan government and their return to power.

Deborah Lyons, the United Nations (UN) Special Representative for Afghanistan, said the day before, "IS-K, which previously operated only in some areas, has recently expanded its influence and now appears to be active in almost all 34 provinces of Afghanistan." On August 26, IS-K carried out a suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport, killing about 180 people. On the 8th and 15th of last month, they conducted successive suicide bombings at Shia mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar, killing over 100 people in total. Furthermore, on the 2nd of this month, they carried out bomb attacks at a military hospital in Kabul, taking more than 19 lives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.