02 May 2017 | 09:51 AM UTC
Afghanistan: Suicide bombing in Nangahar province May 1
Suicide bomber attacks a convoy of foreign forces in Nangahar on May 1, a few days after the Taliban announce the start of their spring offensive
Event
A suicide bomber was killed after attempting to attack a convoy of foreign forces in Bati Kot district, located in eastern Nangarhar province, at around 15:00 (local time) on Monday, May 1. No other casualties were reported and no group has claimed responsibility. The Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) are both present in the region and the attack came few days after the Taliban announced the official start of their annual “spring offensive.”
On a related note, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on May 1 that the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces had conducted joint operations in different areas of the country over the previous 24 hours, killing 130 insurgents including 46 IS affiliates and a local Taliban commander.
Context
Insurgent activity in Nangarhar province has increased substantially over the past several years following the departure of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Anti-terrorist operations regularly take place throughout the province, with an increased scope over the past year in response to the growth of IS.
The Taliban announced the official start of their yearly spring offensive on Friday, April 28. Typically there is a short surge of attacks countrywide once the official declaration is made. This year's announcement comes after 100 soldiers were killed in a Taliban assault on an Afghan military base in Mazar-i-Sharif (Balkh province) on April 21.
Advice
As always, due to major security concerns individuals throughout Afghanistan are urged to keep a safe distance from large gatherings, military convoys, government buildings, and crowded urban areas. Many Western governments advise their citizens against travel to Afghanistan due to the high threat of kidnapping and terrorism, including frequent attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, local civilians and politicians, and individuals working in the humanitarian and reconstruction fields. Travel to the country should only be undertaken with proper security protocols in place.
