KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The local branch of Islamic State, IS-KP, has claimed responsibility for the attack on a Taliban convoy in northeastern Badakhshan province, saying it killed and injured at least 12 Taliban members.
In a statement, IS-KP said that its members targeted a Taliban convoy in the Jozon area of Faizabad, the capital city of Badakhshan, using a motorcycle packed with explosives.
The explosion took place at around 11:00 am local time on Wednesday, May 8th. According to local sources, at least four Taliban members were killed in the blast, and five others were injured, with two of the injured individuals reportedly in critical condition.
Abdul Matin Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Interior, confirmed the attack, saying that the bomb targeted a unit of security forces heading to destroy a poppy field in the region. He mentioned that three people were killed and five others injured in this incident.
The deadly explosion in Badakhshan occurred amidst ongoing public protests against Taliban authorities in the province. These protests began on Friday, May 3, when the Taliban anti-narcotic police opened fire on local civilians in Darayim and Argo districts of the province.
According to local sources, at least two civilians have been killed and five others injured by Taliban forces in Darayim and Argo districts thus far.
The Taliban claims that its anti-narcotics police were attempting to destroy a poppy field in the area, but faced resistance from local farmers. However, the slogans of the protesters indicate that their anger extends beyond the destruction of the poppy field and civilian casualties.
Videos circulating on social media show protesters chanting slogans of “Death to the Islamic Emirate” and demanding the Taliban’s withdrawal from Badakhshan province.
Despite the Taliban’s claim to have resolved the dispute, sources said that the negotiation between the Taliban committee led by Fasihuddin Fetrat, the regime’s chief of army, and protesters has not yielded any result.
This is not the first time IS-KP has targeted Taliban members in Badakhshan province. Last year, the terrorist group killed and injured dozens of Taliban members, including its deputy governor for Badakhshan, Mahzdudin Ahmadi, and senior commander Safiullah Samim, in two separate attacks.
Despite the Taliban’s denial of the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, IS-KP continues to target and kill Taliban members and ethnic minorities in the country. Since January of this year, the terrorist group has claimed responsibility for at least four attacks on the Hazara-Shia community and the Taliban.
