Local sources from Pakistan: Afghanistan International افغانستان اینترنشنال, روزنامه ۸صبح.
UK coverage: BBC.
In a tragic incident that unfolded in the city of Bamiyan, central Afghanistan, gunmen targeted a group of Spanish tourists and an Afghan national, resulting in their untimely deaths. The attack also left four foreigners and three Afghans injured. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities have arrested four individuals in connection with the crime. The Taliban government has condemned the act and vowed to apprehend and punish the perpetrators.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, the country has witnessed a staggering number of terrorist attacks in recent years. In 2023 alone, over 2,000 terrorist attacks were registered, claiming the lives of 1,215 individuals, including military personnel. The ministry did not disclose the identities of the attackers. The majority of these attacks occurred in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with approximately 500 attacks recorded since the beginning of the year. In these attacks, 285 people, including 118 civilians, lost their lives.
The Institute for Conflict and Security Studies in Pakistan reported a 36% increase in terrorist attacks within the country. March saw 56 armed attacks, while April witnessed 77 terrorist incidents. Asad Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, highlighted a 65% rise in Pakistani Taliban attacks and a 500% surge in suicide attacks. Durrani alleged that some Afghan citizens were involved in these suicide bombings. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of seeking refuge with non-state armed groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, an allegation denied by the Taliban.
In a separate development, the Pakistan Army has claimed that the attack on Chinese engineers in Afghanistan was a premeditated act planned within Afghan territory under the control of the Taliban. The suicide attack, which occurred in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens and one Pakistani. The Pakistan Army’s senior official, Ahmed Sharif, stated that the attack’s planning and coordination took place in Afghanistan, with the terrorists and their facilitators operating from across the border. The Pakistan Army has vowed to bring the perpetrators and facilitators to justice.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Chinese engineers, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has denied involvement. The Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Center revealed that the explosives-laden vehicle used in the attack was prepared in Afghanistan and transported to Pakistan through the Chamman border crossing.
As investigations continue into these incidents, the international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence and the threat posed by terrorism in the region. The Afghan government, along with its international partners, will need to intensify efforts to ensure the safety and security of both local and foreign individuals in the country.
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