Kabul airport blast causes multiple casualties, says Taliban

• A huge explosion was heard close to the military side of Kabul airport.
• Local sources said security personnel closed all roads and walled off the area.
• The 8am blast has not been claimed (03:30 GMT).

There have been numerous injuries from an explosion that occurred near the military airport in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, according to a Taliban spokesperson.

Abdul Nafi Takor, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said the explosion on Sunday left a number of persons dead and injured and that an investigation was ongoing.

He made no mention of the explosion’s type or intended recipient.

Before 8am (03:30 GMT), according to locals, a huge explosion was heard close to the military side of the strongly protected airport. They claimed that all roads had been blocked off and that security personnel had walled off the area.

Although the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a provincial affiliate of ISIL (ISIS), has upped its attacks since the Taliban retook control in August 2021, there was no immediate claim of credit for the explosion. Taliban patrols and Shia Afghans have both been targeted in the past.

“ISIS-K is the only enemy claiming the illegality of the Islamic emirate in Afghanistan [Taliban],” Nasratullah Haqbal, a journalist and political commentator, told Media.

At least five Chinese nationals were hurt last month when ISIL-affiliated militants stormed a Kabul hotel that was popular with Chinese travelers.

Since the Taliban retook control, hundreds of people, especially members of Afghanistan’s ethnic communities, have been killed or injured in attacks.

Afghans are now doubting the Taliban‘s claims to have brought security to the nation, according to Haqbal, who spoke to Media.

“It challenges the only privilege that the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan [Taliban] has – all the time that it raises that we brought security, incomparable security to Afghanistan,” he said.

“The second point is it creates concerns among the public of Afghanistan because we know the situation is not good economically, politically and socially, so such type of explosions and attacks bring these questions that the current government is unable to secure the people.”

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