An explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, killed at least six people and injured 13, according to local police and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The explosion took place on Monday afternoon in the city’s southern Qala-e-Bakhtiar neighborhood.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated explosives strapped to his body. Six civilians died, one of whom was a woman. The injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals, and an investigation into the attack is ongoing.
As of yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Although violence in Afghanistan has decreased significantly since the Taliban regained control in 2021, the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in Khorasan Province remains a persistent threat, targeting civilians, foreigners, and Taliban officials through a variety of means.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, particularly from ISIL, which has carried out several high-profile attacks in recent years. The most devastating of these was a suicide bombing in 2022, which killed 53 people, including 46 girls and young women, at an education center in Kabul’s Shia neighborhood.
The Taliban government, which has pledged to keep the country safe, has downplayed the presence of such militant groups, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid recently claiming that ISIL is no longer a significant threat. However, this latest attack highlights the ongoing dangers to Afghan civilians.
As investigations continue, the government has yet to provide additional information about the perpetrators or the motivations behind the attack.
With input from Reuters, Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
