Blast in Kabul kills 8, IS claims responsibility

Published
12
A general view of the city of Kabul, Afghanistan on Friday (Aug 5). — Reuters
A general view of the city of Kabul, Afghanistan on Friday (Aug 5). — Reuters

The Islamic State (IS) militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for a deadly blast in a residential area in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, the group said.

The Afghan police said at least eight people were killed and 18 wounded in the blast.

The militant group said in a statement that 20 people were killed and injured in an attack launched in western Kabul.

"The explosion happened in a crowded place," said Khalid Zadran, the city's police spokesman.

The militant group has claimed recent attacks, mainly on the minority Shia community.

The IS affiliate operating in Afghanistan since 2014 is seen as the country's most serious security challenge since the Taliban took control of the country in August last year.

Opinion

Editorial

Equal citizens
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Equal citizens

Religious minorities continue to face mob violence, attacks on their places of worship, forced conversions and social and economic exclusion.
Tel Aviv’s subterfuge
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Tel Aviv’s subterfuge

These verbal gymnastics indicate that Tel Aviv has no intention of ending its occupation of the Strip.
Abandoned after floods
11 Aug, 2026

Abandoned after floods

THREE years after the 2022 floods submerged a third of Pakistan, more than 134,000 verified affected families in...
Genuine governance
Updated 10 Aug, 2026

Genuine governance

ON the surface, the Punjab cabinet’s decision to allocate funds for local government elections is a welcome step...
Failed by the state
10 Aug, 2026

Failed by the state

THE 1,914 cases of child abuse across Pakistan in the first six months of 2026 should spark outrage. The figure ...
HIV crisis
10 Aug, 2026

HIV crisis

PAKISTAN’s presence among countries with the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia is a matter of shame. Globally,...