Mohammad Dawood Muzamel, the Taliban’s governor in the northern Balkh province, has been killed in a suicide blast that targeted his office today in Mazar-e-Sharif, the Taliban police in Balkh confirmed.
He is the most senior Taliban figure to be killed since the group’s return to power in August 2021.
Asif Waziri, spokesman for Taliban police in Balkh, confirmed the group’s governor and two others were killed in the blast.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told KabulNow that a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the Taliban’s governor’s office where he targeted the administrative officials of the group who were present.
Muzamel was a prominent Taliban commander in the group’s insurgency against the previous Afghan government and its international military allies.
With the Taliban’s return to power, he was appointed as Nangarhar governor where he led the group’s fight against the Islamic State-Khurasan Province (ISKP). Later, the Taliban leader, Mullah Hibatullah, promoted him to deputy interior minister.
After serving as deputy interior minister of the Taliban, Muzamel was appointed as Balkh governor five months ago.
Local health sources have so far confirmed that more than 30 wounded have been already transferred to hospitals as a result of the blast.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
