Afghan authorities have confirmed that the death toll from a devastating suicide bombing at a bank in Kandahar city has climbed to 23. The attack, which occurred on Thursday at approximately 8:30 local time outside the Bank of Kabul offices, targeted civilians waiting to receive their salaries.
The Bank of Kabul, responsible for distributing salaries to military personnel in Afghanistan, has been the frequent target of attacks in the past. Eyewitnesses fear that the actual casualty count may be higher, considering the number of people, including military personnel, gathered outside the bank.
The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting the growing threat posed by the group to Afghanistan's stability. Despite Taliban assertions denying ISKP's significance, the group has emerged as a major security challenge in the region.
According to analysis by Kees Eggink from the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), ISKP originated in 2014 and has since attracted defectors from various militant groups, including al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban. With an estimated membership of 4,000 to 6,000 individuals, ISKP's leadership remains unclear following the death of its former leader, Sanaullah Ghafari, in 2023.
The deadly attack prompted condemnation from Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, who expressed solidarity with the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Afghanistan amidst persistent violence and terrorism.
