A suicide bombing in the northern city of Kunduz has left at least five people dead, including Taliban security personnel, and injured seven others, according to Afghan media reports.

The attack took place at approximately 8:30 AM local time (4:00 GMT) near a Kabul Bank office, confirmed Jumauddin Khaksar, spokesperson for the Kunduz Security Command, in statements to Tolo News.

No Group Has Claimed Responsibility Yet

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but authorities have launched an investigation, Khaksar stated.

Despite Taliban assurances of increased security since their return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan continues to witness frequent attacks, many of which are attributed to the Islamic State (IS). However, the Taliban government has repeatedly denied the presence of IS in the country.

Growing Threat from Islamic State

The Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) has been responsible for a series of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, including the December 11, 2024, assassination of former Taliban Minister of Refugees, Khalilur Rahman Haqqani. The explosion that killed Haqqani occurred inside the ministry headquarters, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the Taliban leadership.

Haqqani, who was the nephew of Interior Minister Siraj Uddin Haqqani, was a key figure in the notorious Haqqani Network, a militant group with close ties to both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, according to the United Nations Security Council.

As security concerns grow, this latest bombing underscores the persistent instability and rising extremist violence in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s claims of maintaining control.

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