Islamic State group claims bombing of Taliban ministry

The Islamic State group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Taliban ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed one person and wounded at least three more earlier this week.

The attacker attempted to enter the Afghan Ministry of Urban Development and Housing on Thursday but was shot by guards and detonated his explosives, according to Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani.

Qani confirmed one death and three injuries. However, Kabul’s Emergency Hospital reported one dead and five wounded, four of whom were critically injured. The attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. (0500 GMT).

An Islamic State communique, translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, stated that the attacker "detonated his explosive vest on multiple officials and guards" inside the ministry building, referring to the Taliban as an “apostate militia.”

IS also claimed an attack on a bank in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday that killed eight people, stating the target was Taliban employees collecting their salaries.

Violence has generally declined since the Taliban regained power in 2021, but the Islamic State group has staged regular attacks, targeting Taliban officials, foreign diplomats, and international representatives.

The group claimed responsibility for the December suicide bombing that killed the Taliban government minister for refugees, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, inside his Kabul office.

In 2023, six civilians were killed near the Taliban’s heavily fortified foreign ministry in another IS-claimed bombing.

A UN Security Council report last week labeled IS the most serious threat to the Taliban, foreign nationals, and ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan.