The Taliban confirmed on Thursday that a significant counterterrorism operation targeted the group’s bunkers in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of eight suspected ISIS members and the detention of seven others. The operation, carried out last night, targeted a network described by Taliban spokespeople as important and dangerous, with authorities stating the detainees were engaged in planning and executing attacks. The government provided details to Pajhwok, the national news agency, as part of the official briefing on the raid.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson and Deputy Minister of Information, asserted that those involved were part of an organized network responsible for assaults against multiple targets. He indicated that ISIS has continued to plot further strikes, including potential attacks on other high-profile sites, signaling ongoing security challenges in the capital. Mujahid’s remarks framed the raid as a decisive step in disrupting a network that the movement regards as a direct threat to stability in Kabul and broader Afghanistan.
The spokesperson highlighted three high-profile attacks that have shaped recent security concerns, including the assault near Kabul airport on New Year’s Day that resulted in numerous casualties, the attack on a hotel frequented by Chinese nationals in mid-December, which left at least thirty dead and many wounded, and an assault on the Pakistani embassy compound earlier in December that caused significant damage. These incidents, Mujahid noted, underscore the persistence of violent extremism and the need for sustained counterterrorism efforts across the country.
In the course of the operation, several foreign nationals were reported among those suspected of ties to the jihadist network. Officials stated that a large cache of weapons was seized, including light arms, grenades, unexploded devices, body vests, and various explosives. Authorities also confirmed the destruction of three bunkers as part of the raid, and announced the capture of multiple suspects who are undergoing processing for further investigations. The operation demonstrates ongoing security pressures in Kabul as Afghan forces continue to pursue networks linked to ISIS and other extremist factions as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the capital and protect civilians. (Pajhwok)