A suicide bombing outside a bank in southern Afghanistan on Thursday left at least 20 people dead, including several members of the Taliban, in a tragic reminder of the ongoing terrorist threats in the country. The attack, which occurred in Kandahar City, targeted Taliban members who were gathering at the bank to collect their salaries.
The blast, which also injured around 50 people, has been attributed to the Islamic State affiliate in the region, ISIS-K, according to Taliban officials. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the government has vowed to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement, has been a focal point for such attacks, even as overall security in the country has improved since the U.S.-led war ended and the Taliban took control. The Taliban has been actively targeting ISIS-K fighters in an effort to eliminate the group, but the threat of terrorism persists in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene following the bombing, with mangled bodies being loaded onto pickup trucks and rushed to the hospital. Photos from the aftermath show shattered windows and bloodstains outside the bank, highlighting the devastation caused by the attack.
Taliban officials have sought to reassure the public that the situation is under control, despite the severity of the attack. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Afghanistan as it navigates the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal and grapples with ongoing security threats.
