Another attack in Afghanistan | The Daily Star
The increase in violence inside the country is a source of concern for the region
Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:00 AM
People inspect the interior of a mosque following a suicide bombing in the city of Kandahar, southwestern Afghanistan, Friday, October 15, 2021. Photo: AP
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People inspect the interior of a mosque following a suicide bombing in the city of Kandahar, southwestern Afghanistan, Friday, October 15, 2021. Photo: AP
Just last week, we wrote in these columns condemning a horrific attack on a Shiite mosque in the Afghan town of Kunduz that killed at least 55 people, and expressed our concern at the escalation of violence in the country. We are now saddened and worried to write about yet another bloody attack in Afghanistan, this time in Kandahar City, which killed at least 41 people and injured dozens more. This attack, like the last, targets the Shiite community and has been claimed by the Islamic State (IS).
The fact that IS is continuing its operations in Afghanistan, and has even gone so far as to brazenly attack a mosque in what is considered to be the heart of the Taliban, has cast huge doubts on how firmly the current government can s ‘hang on to the reins of the country. The new Taliban-led administration was committed to bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan after decades of war, and also assured the world that terrorists could not operate in Afghan territory. Based on recent events, they are struggling to keep their commitments, even in their own backyard. IS appears determined to spread sectarian violence and further destabilize Afghanistan.
For all the latest news, follow the Daily Star’s Google News channel. This latest attack also revealed the scale of the humanitarian crisis the country is currently going through. Afghan doctors told AFP that they urgently need blood for the injured and are struggling to treat them in a crumbling health sector. Just last month, the WHO chief warned that the Afghan health system was on the verge of collapse and cuts in international funding had forced health providers to decide “who to save and who to let die. “.
Although the UN has announced the release of $ 45 million from an emergency fund to support Afghanistan’s ailing health system, the international community must do more to ensure that these funds reach those who have them. most needed. The Taliban now also has a window to prove they are capable of governance, not just conflict, and to prevent the situation from escalating further. However, we are disappointed that no statement has been released, nor any action taken, by the current administration to reassure minority communities across the country who are currently living in fear.
Our hearts go out to the Afghan people, who have already endured so much. Now is the time for world leaders, major donors and regional allies to pressure the Afghan administration to end the violence that has erupted in the country. If this situation is not contained, its repercussions could reverberate throughout the region and create more instability and conflict in the near future.