Afghanistan

US special envoy decries attack on Baghlan mosque, highlights ongoing struggles of Shia community

Thomas West, the US special envoy for Afghanistan, condemned the recent deadly attack on a Shia mosque in Baghlan province, emphasizing the undue suffering endured by the Shia community due to “violent extremism.”

“Afghanistan’s Shi’a community has suffered far too much from violent extremists,” he said on X.

Moreover, he noted that the Herat region experienced additional earthquakes on Sunday morning, exacerbating an already challenging humanitarian situation.

He urged continued support for relief organizations in their efforts to address the urgent needs of Afghans, which include providing shelter, clean drinking water, medicine, and more.

According to sources, the suicide bombing inside the Imam Zaman Mosque in Pul-e-Khumri city, the heart of northern Baghlan province, resulted in the loss of at least 17 lives and left 30 others wounded. In contrast, the Taliban reported a lower casualty figure, citing seven individuals.