Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – At least 10 people were killed when a gunman opened fire on worshippers at a Sufi shrine in Afghanistan’s remote Nahrin district, Baghlan province. The attack occurred during a weekly ritual, according to the Taliban’s Interior Ministry.
“A man fired on Sufis during a weekly ritual at a shrine in Nahrin district, killing ten people,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qani told AFP. Authorities are investigating the attack to determine the motive and identify those responsible.
This latest incident highlights Afghanistan’s ongoing security challenges despite the Taliban’s promise to restore stability after seizing power in 2021. Attacks, often linked to extremist groups like ISIS-K, have continued to target religious minorities and vulnerable communities.
In September, gunmen killed 14 and wounded six in the Daikundi-Ghur border region during a gathering to welcome pilgrims returning from the Arbain festival in Iraq. ISIS claimed responsibility, labeling Shiites “apostates.” Earlier this year, ISIS-K attacked a mosque in Herat province, killing six Shi’ite worshippers, including a woman and a child.
Religious minorities, particularly the Hazara community and Shi’ite Muslims, remain frequent targets of violence in Afghanistan. In 2022, a suicide bombing at a Kabul education center killed 19 Hazara students and injured 27 others during an exam.
The attack on the Sufi shrine is another grim reminder of the enduring instability in the country and the threats faced by religious communities.
