KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), an affiliate of ISIS, has taken responsibility for an attack in northeastern Baghlan that resulted in the death of one religious scholar and the injury of another.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, January 7, in the Baghlan-e-Markazi district of Baghlan province. Local sources identified the victims as Mullah Abdul Razaq and Mullah Hamdullah, who were attacked by armed individuals while heading to a gathering in the area.
According to sources, Razaq was killed in the attack, while Hamdullah, a preacher at a local mosque, sustained severe injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition is reported as critical.
ISKP issued a statement claiming that its fighters targeted the two men, whom the terror group described as Taliban member, resulting in one death and one injury.
Local Taliban authorities have confirmed the incident, saying that an investigation is underway.
Despite the Taliban’s claims of securing the country and dismantling ISKP, the group has continued to carry out brutal attacks in recent years, targeting Taliban members and ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Shia Hazaras and Sufis.
In recent months, ISKP has been responsible for several high-profile attacks, including one in Kabul that killed Khalil Rehman Haqqani, the Taliban Minister for Refugees and Repatriation. Haqqani was also the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban Minister of Interior and leader of the Haqqani network.
In November, ISKP targeted a Sufi shrine in Baghlan, killing at least 10 worshipers and injuring several others. In September, ISKP claimed responsibility for an attack on Shia Hazaras in central Ghor province, killing and injuring at least 20 people.
