Powerful explosion in the mosque, there are victims

An explosion has hit a mosque in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan during a funeral for a Taliban official. The explosion killed at least 19 people, including a former Taliban commander, while 38 others were injured.

Moazuddin Ahmadi, the head of information and culture in Badakshan province, told Radio Free Europe that the explosion occurred in the city of Faizabad during a funeral ceremony for Taliban deputy governor Nissar Ahmad Ahmadi, who had been killed in a suicide car bomb attack three days earlier. before.

"In this incident, the former police commander in the city of Baglan was martyred," he said.

He later issued an appeal to local residents to donate blood for those injured in the blast. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although the Islamic State militant group's branch in Khorasan province on June 6 claimed responsibility for the attack. the attack where Ahmadi was killed.

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the attack was "very disturbing".

"UNAMA condemns this attack and the latest violence and calls for an end to attacks that show disregard for civilian life," the mission said in a tweet.

The Islamic State-Khorasan group has been a key rival of the Taliban-led government since the latter took power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The group has recently intensified attacks, targeting both Taliban patrols but members of the Shiite community. in Afghanistan.

Taliban forces have responded by conducting military operations this month against IS in several Afghan provinces./REL