Shia Community in Afghanistan Suffered Due To Violent Extremists, Says US Envoy

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West reacted to Friday's explosion at the Shia mosque in Pul-e Khomri city and stressed that the Shia community has suffered far too much from violent extremists.

He wrote on social media platform X, "Deeply saddened that a terrorist attack left many innocent Shia worshippers dead and wounded in Pul-e Khumri.”

Earlier, Rina Amiri, the US Special Representative for Women and Human Rights in Afghanistan, said that the attacks against the Shia community are a threat to the diversity that defines Afghanistan.

The attack on Imam Zaman Mosque in Pul-e Khomri city took place on Friday and ISIS claimed responsibility for it.

The ISIS group said that a suicide bomber of the group killed 50 Shias and wounded dozens of others. However, the Taliban said that only seven people were killed and 15 others were wounded in this attack.

Over the past few years, religious and cultural places and gatherings of Hazaras and Shias have been attacked many times in Afghanistan.