Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside a bank in northern Afghanistan that killed five people and wounded seven others, saying it was targeting Taliban government employees collecting their salaries.
The attack occurred on Tuesday in the city of Kunduz, with local police confirming that among the victims were civil servants. In a statement released on Wednesday via its propaganda channels, IS said a “suicide bomber” detonated an explosive vest as “Taliban militia members gathered outside a public bank.”
Violence in Afghanistan has significantly decreased since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, ending their two-decade insurgency. However, IS continues to pose a serious security challenge, carrying out bombings and gun attacks against Taliban officials and civilians.
Tuesday’s blast bears similarities to a previous suicide attack in March 2024, when a bomber struck outside a bank in the southern city of Kandahar. IS also claimed responsibility for that attack, which Taliban authorities said killed three people, though a hospital source put the toll as high as 20.
The Taliban government has prioritized security and launched a sweeping crackdown on IS militants. Analysts suggest these efforts have weakened the group, yet IS remains active, frequently targeting Taliban leaders, foreign diplomats, and visitors from abroad.
In December, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Kabul that killed Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister for refugees.
Discrepancies often arise in casualty figures, with Taliban officials providing lower death tolls than those reported by sources on the ground. Attack sites are routinely cordoned off by security forces, limiting independent verification.
While the Taliban has sought to project stability, Tuesday’s bombing underscores the ongoing threat posed by IS, raising concerns over Afghanistan’s fragile security landscape.
