ISIS claims responsibility for suicide attack on anti-Taliban protesters
Several hundred people had gathered near Presidential Palace after increase in militant raids
An explosion close to a group of protesters in the Afghan capital of Kabul claimed at least four lives and injured eight people yesterday.
Several hundred residents had marched to and gathered near the Presidential Palace late on Sunday night to protest against a recent rise in Taliban attacks in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
Security officials said a suicide bomber on foot detonated his vest just as the protesters were dispersing.
ISIS claimed the attack shortly after through their propaganda agency Amaq.
“I joined the protests at 7am. Others had been there all night,” said Nilofer Muradi, 23, a law student from Kabul.
Ms Muradi and thousands of other Afghans were demanding government action against Taliban attacks in the Jaghori and Malistan districts of Ghazni, which are predominantly Shiite. Most of the protesters belonged to the Afghan minority that has increasingly been targeted by insurgent groups, especially ISIS.
Attacks in the southern districts have been continuing for more than a week, with the Taliban making inroads into district centres. About 25 Afghans, including 15 civilians and 10 commandos, were killed in Jaghori on Sunday.
Malistan resident Khudada Jaffari, 57, told The National several local families had fled the fighting while Taliban fighters closed in on government buildings.
“My neighbours who had cars or motorbikes have escaped the area, but those who didn’t have any vehicle have escaped to the mountains,” Mr Jaffari said.
He said he stayed behind to protect his family home and his neighbour’s property while his family escaped to a safer area.
Mr Jaffari said there were several thousand people in the mountains without access to resources and exposed to nature. “The temperature is below zero,” he said. “They will die if they aren’t able to return soon.”
Mr Jaffari said he had enough food stored for the winter, a common practice in colder regions of Afghanistan.
“But I don’t have access to water because I have to fetch it from the river and I can’t get out,” he said.
He hoped the government would come to his rescue.
“The government has to send more forces here and also send air support for the soldiers trapped inside the government buildings,” Mr Jaffari said.
“If the government does not act quickly, our soldiers might get killed and then we might get killed. The government has to act quickly and end the war here so I can go and bring water for myself and my cattle.”
Yesterday morning, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani heeded the call for a stronger military response.
In a call to demonstrators, he assured them there would be air strikes and an increase in troops.
“Last night I ordered the air strike and this morning I ordered the army chief to go to Ghazni personally and take control of the battle,” Mr Ghani said. “Commando forces, 201st Corps, are on their way to Malistan now.”
He said aid was also being sent to the displaced residents of Ghazni.
Mr Ghani explained why a response had been difficult.
“We do have a problem in hiring new soldiers, which is why we can’t create the new army division right away,” he said, urging people to support the nation’s military.
With their concerns addressed, most of the Kabul protesters dispersed, including Ms Muradi.
“We did get the opportunity to talk to Gen [Murad Ali] Murad, who is the chief of Kabul garrison, and protest organisers talked to the president over the phone,” she said. “He promised air strikes on Taliban strongholds.”
The explosion occurred shortly after. “About 3,000 to 4,000 people and another group of 2,000 students from Kabul University, were on their way when we heard the boom,” Ms Muradi said.
Among those killed and injured were security officials and policemen.
The Taliban has continued to step up attacks around the country even as they attend international peace talks.