The death toll in a deadly explosion in western Kabul on Tuesday evening rose to eight and left 37 others injured, according to sources.
In contrast, the Taliban reported a slightly lower number of casualties, stating that seven people were killed, and 20 were wounded in the incident.
The responsibility for this attack has been claimed by ISIS-K.
The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening near the Gulaee Mahtab Qala area, in close proximity to the Mohammad Ali Jinnah Hospital in the west of Kabul.
This marks the third attack targeting the Shiite and Hazara communities in the past month. The first of these attacks took place on Oct. 13, with a suicide attack at the Imam Zaman Mosque in Pul Khomri city. The Taliban initially reported seven casualties in that incident, but video evidence from the Fatih ceremony indicated a higher toll, with 19 dead.
Subsequently, an explosion targeted a boxing club in Dasht-e-Barchi area in the west of Kabul on Oct. 26. The Taliban initially stated that four people were killed and nine were injured, but eyewitnesses and informed sources disputed these figures, claiming that seven people died and 20 were wounded.
When considering the numbers from these alternative sources, it is apparent that nearly 34 people have lost their lives in the past month due to these three separate attacks, all of which have been claimed by ISIS-K.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, expressed his deep concern regarding this attack and the broader pattern of violence against the Hazara community in Afghanistan.
Bennett highlighted that this is the third attack targeting the Hazara community in less than a month.
In a statement posted on X, Bennett emphasized the imperative need for “a full and transparent investigation” into the incident, underscoring the importance of identifying and holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Despite the Taliban’s claims of having defeated Daesh in Afghanistan after regaining power, the country has witnessed a resurgence of violence in the last two years, with Daesh claiming responsibility for several bloody attacks.
The attack on Tuesday night in Kabul prompted strong reactions from prominent figures in Afghanistan, including Hamid Karzai, the former president, Abdullah Abdullah, the former head of the high council for national reconciliation, Haneef Atmar, the former foreign minister, and other politicians, who described the attack as a hateful and inhumane act.
