ISIS Gunman Kills 6 at Shia Mosque in Afghanistan, Pakistan Condemns Attack

An ISIL (ISIS) gunman targeted a Shia mosque in Herat, Afghanistan, killing six people, including the Imam. The Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), a Sunni extremist group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that one of its members targeted a "Shiite temple" with machine-gun fire. The Taliban's Ministry of Interior confirmed the incident, reporting that six worshippers, including a woman and a child, were killed and one person was wounded.

The attack occurred in the Guzara district of Herat province, which has a majority Hazara population, a Shia ethnic minority in Afghanistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the attack and called for immediate action against the perpetrators. The Afghanistan Freedom Front also criticized the attack, describing it as "genocide" and a "crime against humanity."

Why this matters: The attack is the latest in a series of targeted attacks by ISIS-K against Shia communities in Afghanistan, particularly the Hazara ethnic minority, since the Taliban's takeover in 2021. It highlights the ongoing security challenges and sectarian violence in the country, despite the Taliban's reassurances to prevent the use of Afghan soil by international terrorist groups.

In response to the attack, Pakistan strongly denounced the heinous terrorist attack" and expressed condolences to the people of Afghanistan. The Pakistani government reiterated its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including attacks on places of worship, and expressed solidarity with Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism. Pakistan's foreign affairs ministry extended their thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families during this time of grief.

The attack has received widespread condemnation from the international community. The UN, the EU, and the US have called for the protection and justice of the Hazara-Shia community, as well as accountability for the perpetrators. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai denounced the attack, calling it a "terrorist act against all religious and human standards."

The Taliban Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the incident. However, the ISIL affiliate in Afghanistan, a major Taliban rival, frequently attacks schools, hospitals, mosques, and Shiite areas throughout the country, posing a significant challenge to the Taliban's security efforts. As the investigation continues, the international community remains concerned about the safety and rights of religious minority groups in Afghanistan.

Key Takeaways

• ISIL gunman attacked Shia mosque in Herat, Afghanistan, killing 6 people.
• ISIS-K claimed responsibility, calling it an attack on a "Shiite temple".
• Attack condemned by UN, EU, US, and former Afghan President Karzai.
• Taliban investigating, but ISIL affiliate poses security challenge in Afghanistan.
• Pakistan strongly denounced the "heinous terrorist attack" and expressed condolences.