Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Second Deadly Attack in Shiite Neighborhood in Afghan Capital
Second attack in Shiite Neighborhood Dashti Barchi kills 7, wounds 20 as Islamic State sustains assaults on Shiite communities across Afghanistan.
- The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a minibus explosion in the Shiite neighborhood of Dashti Barchi in Kabul, killing at least seven people and injuring 20.
- This is the second attack by the Islamic State on this neighbourhood within two weeks, the previous one occurring at a sports club resulting in four deaths and seven injuries.
- The Sunni-extremist group targets Shiite populations, whom they consider apostates, and has carried out significant attacks on schools, hospitals, and mosques across the country.
- The Islamic State, primarily based in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, has been a significant rival to the Taliban since the latter took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
- The Shiite Muslim community, particularly the Hazaras, have faced decades of oppression and discrimination in Afghanistan, including by the ruling Taliban.