Explosions and Security Operations in Kabul Raise Concerns for Civilians
Three people are confirmed dead and four others were injured when a vehicle struck a mine west of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Local authorities, now operating under the Taliban-led administration since August 2021, reported the incident and stated that security forces quickly responded to the scene to secure the area and begin an investigation.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran provided details through the city’s official channels, noting that the blast occurred in the Alojil neighborhood in the 16th district at roughly 15:50 local time on the day of the attack. Zadran said a suspicious person had been detained as investigators arrived to assess the situation. At this stage, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Rising violence in Kabul has been a grim pattern in recent days. Just three days earlier, a bus bombing in the Dasht-e-Barchi district—an area with a significant Hazara population—killed five people and injured about 15 others. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan called for an immediate end to such civilian-targeted attacks and urged better protections for minority communities amid ongoing security challenges.
The Taliban leadership asserted that security operations have targeted positions held by extremist groups. They claimed that all centers once used by such groups have been eliminated, and they described the ongoing campaign as focused on disrupting jihadist networks within the country. The Taliban’s security stance includes an estimate that the group currently has a relatively small number of well-organized fighters in Afghanistan, spread across various provinces, as authorities emphasize nationwide efforts to restore order and stability.
Within Afghanistan, the Islamic State Khorasan Province continues to challenge the Taliban’s authority by advocating a stricter interpretation of Islamic law. The ISKP views the Taliban as renegades from orthodox Sharia and remains a frequent target of the Taliban’s security operations. The evolving confrontation between these groups contributes to a volatile security landscape that directly impacts civilians, hospitals, schools, and daily life across major urban centers like Kabul.
Observers and aid organizations have repeatedly warned about the toll of such incidents on civilians. The recurring pattern of attacks highlights the critical need for comprehensive protection measures for vulnerable communities, clear accountability for perpetrators, and sustained international attention to Afghanistan’s security trajectory as it navigates political transitions and ongoing internal conflict.