Taliban Deputy Minister Severely Injured In Kabul Suicide Bombing

Local sources told Afghanistan International that the blast was powerful, causing significant destruction.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing told local media that the suicide bomber attempted to enter the ministry.

According to Mohammad Kamal Afghan, Taliban security forces neutralised the attacker at the ministry’s entrance, but the explosion resulted in one fatality and three injuries.

The ministry is located in the Third Macroryan area of Kabul.

This marks the second suicide bombing targeting the Taliban within three days.

On Tuesday, 11 February, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the Kabul Bank office in Kunduz, where Taliban military personnel and government employees had gathered to collect their salaries.

Medical sources at Kunduz Regional Hospital confirmed to Afghanistan International that 18 bodies and 14 wounded individuals were transported to the facility.

ISIS later claimed responsibility for the Kunduz attack.

Suicide operations have been a key Taliban tactic over the past two decades, with the group carrying out hundreds of deadly attacks against the previous Afghan government and international forces, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians.

Despite gaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has continued to maintain its suicide bombing units, raising concerns over its long-term security strategy and counterterrorism measures.

Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, stated that findings and evidence suggest the perpetrators of such attacks “have roots beyond Afghanistan’s borders.”

“They organise their evil acts from outside,” Qani said, without providing further details. While he did not specify any country or group, he emphasised that the Taliban would identify and punish those responsible for the Kunduz attack.

The suicide bombing occurred on Tuesday at the entrance of the Kabul Bank branch in Kunduz.

ISIS later claimed responsibility, asserting that “hundreds of people, including Taliban security commanders,” were killed.

However, the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior reported a lower death toll, stating that eight people, including Taliban members and civilians, were killed.

Local sources told Afghanistan International that at least 18 people were killed and 14 others injured, with most victims belonging to the Taliban’s army and police forces.

According to reports, the suicide bomber targeted Taliban forces who were waiting to collect their salaries at the bank entrance.

The attack bears similarities to past Taliban operations against Afghan security forces.

In 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the Kabul Bank gate in Helmand, killing 29 people and injuring 60 others. The Taliban had claimed responsibility for that attack.

A report by Afghanistan International revealed that between 2002 and 2020, the Taliban carried out approximately 1,196 suicide attacks in Afghanistan, with most bombers trained by the Haqqani Network.

Zhirnov emphasised that Afghanistan needs economic development and expanded foreign trade, and that the Taliban recognise Russia’s support as a crucial factor in achieving these goals.

According to Zhirnov, the Taliban view Russia as a key economic partner.

Earlier, Agroexport, a subsidiary of Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture, announced that Afghanistan was the largest importer of Russian flour in 2024. The data revealed that Afghanistan imported $80 million worth of Russian flour, double the amount from 2023.

The Russian ambassador also noted that Afghanistan exports chromite, rubies, and emeralds to Russia, though he did not specify the volume of these exports.

Zhirnov highlighted Russia’s effective relations with the Taliban, stating in an interview with RIA Novosti that Moscow and Kabul have significantly intensified their contacts, with negotiations progressing effectively.

Referring to recent visits by Russian officials to Kabul and Taliban representatives to Moscow, he described the discussions as constructive and ongoing.

Earlier, Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, announced that Moscow aims to establish a Russia-Taliban bilateral working group in spring 2025.

Kabulov explained that, since the Taliban have not yet been officially recognised, this working group will replace the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, serving as a temporary platform for bilateral economic engagement.

The annual index, which assesses public sector corruption worldwide, ranks Denmark, Finland, and Singapore as the least corrupt nations, securing the top three positions with the highest scores.

Transparency International stated that corruption levels worldwide remain alarmingly high, with efforts to combat the issue largely failing.

In 2024, Afghanistan scored 17, placing it at rank 165—a three-place decline from the previous year, once again positioning the country among the most corrupt nations globally.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 was released on Tuesday, with South Sudan ranking at the bottom of the list, scoring just 8 points.

The Corruption Perceptions Index scores countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In 2023, Afghanistan had a score of 20, ranking 162nd. In 2022, the country scored 24, placing 150th.

Among Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, the rankings for 2024 are as follows. Pakistan ranks 140th, with a score of 27. Iran ranks 147th, with a score of 25.

The continued decline in Afghanistan’s ranking reflects ongoing governance challenges and lack of anti-corruption measures, raising concerns about transparency and accountability under the Taliban administration.

The Vienna Process will bring together dozens of political groups, politicians, and civil society activists to discuss Afghanistan’s future.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Vienna Process announced that participants will focus on Afghanistan’s post-Taliban future and explore political alternatives.

According to the statement, more than 50 major political groups and a number of prominent Afghan figures are expected to attend the conference.

The fourth Vienna Conference took place on 24 June 2024. Organisers have stated that the upcoming session will prioritise political unity among political, civil, and military groups.

Since the fall of the previous Afghan government, the Vienna Process has emerged as the most significant platform for bringing together political and military groups opposed to the Taliban.

The statement further emphasised that the fifth conference will be held in an open political space, allowing participants to transparently discuss viable solutions to overcome the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.