Afghanistan: IS-KP attack kills 57 people in Kabul April 22 /update 2

Event

The death toll from a suicide bombing that targeted a voter registration center in Kabul on Sunday, April 22, has risen to at least 57 people as of Monday, April 23. Some 119 others were also wounded in the attack, which has been claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) militant group. The blast reportedly rocked the Dasht-e Barchi neighborhood, a predominantly Hazara Shi'a area, around 10:00 (local time).

In a separate incident, a roadside bomb attack killed at least six people and wounded five others near a voter registration center in Pul-e-Khumri (Baghlan province) on Sunday, April 22. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Additionally, Taliban militants launched an attack on a voter registration center late on Sunday in Badghis province, killing at least nine Afghan National Army soldiers and wounding two others. Additional IS-KP and Taliban attacks on voter registration centers are expected in the coming weeks ahead of the parliamentary and district elections, scheduled in October.

Context

Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is active in Afghanistan and has carried out several attacks in the country in recent months. Notably, IS-KP carried out a suicide bombing attack on the Shi'a Kart-e-Sakhi shrine in Kabul on March 21, killing at least 33 people and wounding 65 others.

The Taliban has made gains in various parts of the country since most foreign combat troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014. The Taliban tends to target government and military buildings and personnel as it fights the US-backed Kabul government, and has been increasingly active since US President Trump announced plans in September 2017 to send an additional 3000 troops to rout terrorist networks in the country.

Advice

Due to major security concerns in the country, 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.