NEW DELHI: 3 people were killed and 12 others were injured in a suicide attack on a private bank in Kandahar city, as per officials. The victims, who gathered at the New Kabul Bank branch to receive their monthly salaries, were affected by the explosion, Inamullah Samangani, head of the government’s Kandahar information and culture department informed.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban interior ministry, confirmed the occurrence of the attack but refrained from providing additional details, citing ongoing investigations.
The party responsible for the bombing remains unidentified, with previous attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas in the country attributed to the Islamic State group’s affiliate, a significant rival of the Taliban.
Kandahar city holds significance as a spiritual and political hub for Afghanistan’s rulers, with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, stationed there. Major decisions are often executed by authorities in Kabul, the nation’s capital, under his direction.
The Taliban ascended to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 amidst the tumultuous exit of US and Nato forces after a two-decade presence. Despite initial pledges of adopting a more moderate approach, the Taliban progressively reintroduced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, reminiscent of their previous governance from 1996 to 2001.