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Islamic State-Khorasan claims killing of Taliban official in Afghanistan
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Conflict & Security

Islamic State-Khorasan claims killing of Taliban official in Afghanistan

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) group claimed responsibility for the killing of a Taliban official in Afghanistan.
  • Zabihullah Amiri, head of information and culture for Badakhshan province, was shot dead on Tuesday.
  • Afghanistan's information ministry stated that one attacker was killed and another arrested following the incident.

A regional branch of the militant Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a rare deadly attack on a Taliban official in northeastern Afghanistan, according to a monitoring group.

Zabihullah Amiri, the head of the information and culture department in Badakhshan province, was shot dead on Tuesday while traveling to the provincial capital, Faizabad. The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) group stated on Wednesday that its soldiers targeted Amiri, described as a commander of the "apostate Taliban militia," with machine guns, killing him and one of his guards.

The soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a commander from the apostate Taliban militia… with machine guns, killing him along with one of his guards.

— Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K)The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement quoted by the SITE Intelligence Group.

Amiri was reportedly a nephew of Amanuddin Mansur, the governor of southern Helmand province. Afghanistan's information and culture ministry confirmed the attack, stating that one assailant was killed and a second was arrested. The ministry issued a statement asserting that "cowardly acts will never weaken our firm resolve and steadfast determination."

Taliban officials have pledged to restore security across Afghanistan, but sporadic attacks continue since their return to power in 2021. IS-K previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Kabul in December 2024 that killed Taliban minister Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani.

The ministry reminds the enemies of the Islamic government that such cowardly acts will never weaken our firm resolve and steadfast determination.

— Afghanistan's information and culture ministryThe ministry commented on the attack, vowing continued resolve against such acts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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