Afghanistan: Bomb explodes near protest camp in Kabul March 24

Event

An improvise explosive device (IED) exploded in Kabul on the evening (local time) of Saturday, March 24. According to officials from the Interior Ministry, the device was magnetically attached to a vehicle near a protest site at the Ghazi Stadium in the Chaman-e-Hozoori district. At least one person was killed and 13 other wounded in the blast. No group initially claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

The sit-in camp was set up in early March by Afghans in support of Pakistani Pashtuns who are protesting in Islamabad. Demonstrations started after a Pashtun man was killed during a security operation in Karachi in January. The man’s family denied he was a militant and claim the incident was an “encounter killing” (extrajudicial killings carried out by security forces when police do not have enough evidence to convict someone of a crime).

Advice

Individuals in Kabul are advised to avoid the above area, monitor the situation, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

More generally, the security environment in Afghanistan remains complex. Although travel is possible in some areas with proper security protocols in place, other areas should be considered strictly off-limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.