ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Taliban’s Al-Farooq Personnel

Mr. Qomi also said on Twitter that during his trip to Central Asia, he discussed various issues with officials of the countries from that region.

Mr. Qomi has recently been vocal about controversial topics too. During the Taliban's offensive on Mawlawi Mahdi's forces in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul province, Qomi said that "the war in Balkhab is a preliminary sedition of America". He emphasized that Afghan politicians should stay away from the Balkhab war, because, according to him, anyone who incites this war is playing into America’s hands.

He stated, "America's priority for purposeful chaos in Afghanistan is to blow an ethnic and religious war, in order to make Hazara and Tajik victims of their plan and regionalize the Afghan crisis."

A local reporter from Herat said that the Taliban did not allow reporters to the scene of the attack.

A journalist, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said that despite the reporters' repeated efforts, they failed to get more information regarding these attacks. Sources allege that the Taliban has warned Herat hospitals not to provide information to journalists.

On Monday morning, local sources reported an explosion in Herat, which targeted a vehicle ferrying the Taliban's defense ministry personnel. Some sources have said that civilians were also among the injured.

Taliban also banned music and display of athletes’ pictures at the gyms.

Meanwhile, Radio Nowruz reported that the provincial Directorate of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has warned gymnasiums in the province to abide by the "Islamic laws" at the club or “the club’s trainer will be arrested and sentenced”.

After the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, the Taliban imposed many restrictions on various classes in Afghan society.

It has been more than 289 days since the Taliban have prevented Afghan girls from attending secondary schools across the country.

Women have faced restrictions on employment, community presence, and political activities.

In fact, a plan for the separation of men and women socially has been implemented by the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban at universities, restaurants, and parks.

The ministry has also ordered wedding halls to avoid playing music during wedding ceremonies.

According to these sources, the clash between the two warring factions continued for nearly half an hour.

Shah Mahmood Rasooli, Taliban’s spokesperson for Herat police headquarters, confirmed the attack and told the media that one of the attackers was killed by the Taliban forces, but two others fled.

Local Taliban officials didn’t provide details about the casualties of the incident. Meanwhile, media reports stated that at least two Taliban members were killed and over 20 Taliban members and civilians were wounded in the attack

Nazary, while reacting to the latest audio recording attributed to Hibatullah Akhundazada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, called the Taliban a totalitarian group and added that the group has connections with terrorist groups.

On Friday, Taliban published an audio file attributed to their supreme leader. In the recording, Akhundzada rejected any engagement with the international community because Sharia law is a priority to him.

In the audio note, Akhundzada addressed the international community and stressed that they will not negotiate on Sharia law, and “our life and death is with God”. He added that “they will not act upon other’s will”.

Expressing doubts over the Taliban leader’s presence, Nazary said that it has not yet been proven that the person whose audio file was published on Friday was the Taliban’s supreme leader.

Nazary also questioned the Taliban’s unity and said that the group does not have a sole leader. He claimed that the Taliban have wide political and ideological rifts.