Afghanistan: At least five dead from suicide blast near foreign ministry

At least five people were killed in a suicide bombing close to Afghanistan’s foreign ministry this week. A nearby hospital said at least 40 others were wounded from the bombing.

Afghan police said on Wednesday that a suicide bombing close to the Afghan foreign ministry killed at least five people. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed that the official death toll was five, while a nearby hospital reported that around 40 people were wounded from the blast. However, the Taliban-backed information ministry official Ustad Fareedun said the death toll from the blast was around 20 people.

Fareedun said the bomber intended to enter the foreign ministry but did not succeed. The Italian NGO-run medical center Emergency Hospital said it received over 40 people following the explosion. Official sources also confirmed a photo of the incident, showing at least nine people dead or wounded outside the ministry.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a post by the group-affiliated Amaq news outlet on the Telegram messaging platform. The blast was condemned by the United Nations and several other countries, including China, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.

Since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban administration has faced domestic attacks in parts of the country by the Islamic State militant group. Some attacks have targeted foreigners, including the Russian and Pakistani embassies and a hotel that is frequented by Chinese nationals. The attacks come despite the insurgent group’s pledge to bring security to the country.

On Tuesday, a US official said the succession of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was believed to be killed during a US drone strike in Afghanistan in 2022, remains to be determined.

“The question for Al Qaeda, that it has not answered for itself, is who follows,” said US National Counterterrorism Center director Christine Abizaid during an event hosted by the Washington Institute when pressed about the group’s “center of gravity” following al-Zawahiri’s killing.

Experts believe that former Egyptian special forces officer Saif al-Adel, who is a high-ranking member of the group, may be the top contender to become the next leader. Washington is giving a reward of $10 million for information leading to al-Adel’s arrest.