'IS' attack on Shiite mosque in Kabul kills dozens
August 25, 2017
At least 20 people were killed when militants loyal to "Islamic State" (IS) stormed a mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul. This was the latest in a string of attacks targeting Afghanistan's minority Shiites.
The attack occurred during afternoon prayers and reportedly lasted for four hours, with the death toll expected to rise due to the dozens of seriously wounded victims who were brought to local hospitals.
Two assailants blew themselves up inside the mosque, while a further two were shot dead by Afghan security forces.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that IS terrorists were turning to attacks on places of worship because they were losing on the battlefield, and called on all Islamic clerics in the nation to condemn the violence.
One of the first groups to do so was actually the Afghan Taliban, which is fighting an armed insurgency against Ghani's government. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made it clear in a phone call to the news agency AP that his group had nothing to do with the attack and did not approve of it.
US promises more troops
The attack comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump announcing his new strategy for America's longest war. After promising a complete removal of troops during his campaign, Trump said on Monday that after speaking with advisors, he realized a pullout was simply not feasible.
He added that he would send more troops to the region, but did not give a specific number.
Trump said that the removal of US soldiers from the country would leave a "vacuum" that could allow both the Taliban and IS to make gains against Ghani's democratically elected government. He added that the US would focus on "killing terrorists" instead of "nation building," without clarifying what he meant by either of those terms, though he did say he believed the future of Afghanistan should lie in the hands of its people and not Washington.
Trump's speech received mixed reactions from allies in Kabul and around the world. For its part, Ghani's government agrees that prolonged US presence is necessary as it continues its asymmetrical conflict with two armed Islamist insurgencies.
es/rt (AP, dpa)