A devastating bomb attack rocked a bustling market in Kabul, Afghanistan, claiming the life of a child and leaving 11 others injured. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the city’s central Pamir Cinema area, was confirmed by Taliban officials on Thursday.
According to police spokesman Khalid Zadran, the blast resulted from explosives concealed in a bag carried by an attacker. “Yesterday, there was an explosion in the Pamir Cinema area of Kabul from explosives a person was carrying in a bag,” Zadran stated in a statement.
The explosion occurred in a densely populated neighborhood, where many residents struggle with poverty. “The explosion took place at a second-hand clothes market when it opened and people crowded to get in,” said Stefano Gennaro Smirnov, deputy country director for Emergency, an Italian-run hospital in Kabul. “This is the Pamir Cinema neighbourhood, one of the most densely populated in Kabul. Many of those affected by this attack will be living in conditions of severe poverty.”
The impact of the blast was severe, with Emergency NGO reporting the treatment of 11 victims, including two young children, a 16-year-old, and two women. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the continued security challenges facing Afghanistan.
While bombings and suicide attacks have significantly decreased since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, armed groups opposed to the Taliban remain a threat. This latest incident follows a suicide bombing at a prosecutor’s office in Kabul last month, which claimed the lives of six people and injured 13 others. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for that attack, stating it was in retaliation for the detention of individuals in prisons operated by the Taliban government.
The IS group, a major rival of the Taliban, has been responsible for numerous attacks across Afghanistan, targeting schools, hospitals, mosques, and Shiite areas. The group’s continued presence underscores the complex security situation in the country, even under Taliban rule. The arrest of a suspect, who was also injured in the explosion, provides a glimmer of hope for investigations and potentially holding perpetrators accountable. However, the lasting impact of this tragedy on the families of the victims and the broader community is undeniable. The international community continues to call for a lasting peace in Afghanistan and a reduction in violence, but the road ahead remains fraught with challenges.