Six people are confirmed dead and seven others injured following an explosives attack in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday. Officials said the blast targeted a vehicle carrying employees of an oil company, and the explosion occurred as a security convoy passed by. Authorities attributed the incident to a bomb placed on the vehicle, which detonated during the transit in Mazar-i-Sharif. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has acknowledged the event.
At the time of reporting, no armed group had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. The jihadist organization Islamic State, which has been active in Afghanistan, had previously asserted involvement in multiple assaults across urban centers during the previous year.
Since the Taliban assumed power in August of the previous year, Islamic State’s Afghan branch, sometimes referred to as the Islamic State Khorasan Province, has emerged as a persistent security challenge. Some officials and supporters of the movement have contested the assessment that IS poses a stable threat to the country.
Earlier in December, IS claimed an assault involving two snipers targeting the Pakistani embassy chief and guards as they were inside the diplomatic compound. A security guard sustained serious injuries while protecting the mission head. Afghan authorities reported the swift arrest of a suspected IS operative amid pressure from Islamabad by Islamist factions operating in the region.
IS has also claimed responsibility for various attacks, including bombings and suicide assaults on mosques, schools, and high-security zones. Among the most deadly incidents was a suicide attack on an education center in Kabul last September, which targeted members of the Hazara Shiite minority and left dozens dead and many more injured.
In response, the Taliban government has conducted security operations across multiple provinces, aiming to neutralize jihadist fighters and reassure both domestic and international partners that the security situation is stabilizing in areas under their control.
Analysts note that the security landscape in Afghanistan remains volatile, with competing narratives about the effectiveness of the Taliban’s counterterrorism efforts and the ongoing threat from IS-linked groups. Observers emphasize the need for continued vigilance and regional cooperation to prevent further attacks and protect vulnerable communities throughout the country.