Kabul (Press): The extremist group, Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of Saturday at a protest by members of the Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority, that killed at least 81 people and injured more than 230 others. The attack on Saturday which shook Afghanistan, was the first major attack to have been claimed by the ISIS in Afghanistan. Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, has condemned the attack and expressed deep concerns.
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan had recently signed pacts on energy collaboration. A peaceful protest by members of the Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority was organised against the proposed 500 kV project, to renew calls for a major electricity line to be routed through Bamiyan province, the Hazara heartland. The protest was organised where thousands marched through the streets of Kabul. An explosion ripped through the crowd when the protesters were near Kabul’s Deh Mazang Square killing 81 people.
Local news reported of 3 suicide bombers joined the protest march. One of the suicide bombers detonated the bomb, second was killed by the Afghan police and the third bomber was unsuccessful in attempting to explode a bomb which averted further damage. The third bomber could not be identified till now. The condition of the injured is reported to be critical and the death toll is expected to increase.
The first suspect for these attacks was Taliban, however, within minutes of the blast Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid disowned the responsibility. Later the IS claimed responsibility of the blast through ‘Amaq’.
In the past few months, there were news reports of the IS increasing their influence in Afghanistan and also that many Taliban terrorists being aggrieved with local leadership, have joined the IS units in Pakistan. A senior commander of Taliban is known to have joined the IS. However, in the last 18 months there was no major incident of terrorism executed by the IS in Afghanistan. The attack on Saturday by the IS, seems to have challenged the military establishment of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Government has condemned the attack. There were intelligence reports of a possible threat to the planned protest, hence there was an appeal to cancel the protest. Spokesperson of Afghan President confirmed that President Ashraf Ghani had agreed for a discussion on demands from the protesting Hazara community and the same was communicated to their leaders. Afghan Government has suggested that the attack on the Hazara community who have traditionally been supportive of Ashraf Ghani, is aimed at causing the rift and social conflicts.
Pakistan is proving sanctuary for terrorists : Afghanistan’s UN envoy
Pakistan is once again proving to be a safe haven for terrorists of ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’, ‘Taliban’, ‘Jaish-e- Mohammad’ and ‘Al-Qaeda’ which poses a great danger to India and Afghanistan. Afghanistan Ambassador to United Nations, Mahmoud Saikal, has accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists and sheltering them in camps along the border.
Mahmoud Saikal exposed Pakistan’s agenda to topple the present government in Afghanistan, get an Islamic fanatic government in power, destabilize relations with India and garner control of various other terrorist groups in the region. In the past few weeks, the Afghan Ambassador, while hurling pointed accusations at Pakistan, stated that the present Pakistani establishment do not have the will to eradicate the terrorists from its soil.
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