The acting governor of Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan was killed in a suicide attack Tuesday, officials said, months after the commander of the local police station was killed in a similar attack claimed by the Islamic State.
The suicide bomber was driving a car loaded with explosives in the city of Faizabad and targeted the car that was carrying Nassar Ahmad Ahmadi, who is deputy governor of Badakhshan province (northeast) and was named acting governor last month.
“The target of this attack was the vehicle carrying Nassar Ahmad Ahmadi,” said the head of the Guidance and Information Department in the province, Moezuddin Ahmadi.
The driver of the car was also killed and six others were wounded in the attack, which has not been claimed by any party.
In December 2022, the provincial police chief was killed in a suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State. Months earlier, in April 2022, the head of the mines department was also killed in a bombing.
Security has greatly improved in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and overthrew the US-backed government. However, the Islamic State remains the largest security threat to the government.
Islamic State attacks often target Afghanistan’s Shiite and Sufi minorities, as well as foreign nationals and interests.
