Deadly ISKP Terror Group Target Religious Minorities In Afghanistan

The Islamic State of Khorasan Province(ISKP), an ISIS affiliate group, has ramped up attacks on religious minorities in Afghanistan. The ISKP is responsible for violent attacks and bombings targeting the Shia religious minority. The group is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in Afghanistan.

Following a deadly ISKP suicide bombing, ISIS threatened Shia Muslims in their homes and places of worship across the country.

“The ISKP armed group has repeatedly carried out devastating attacks that appear designed to spread terror and inflict maximum suffering particularly on Afghanistan’s Hazara community,” HRW Associate Asia Director Patricia Gossman said in a statement. “The numerous attacks targeting Hazaras amount to crimes against humanity, and those responsible should be brought to justice.”

No less than 135 people were killed in two separate suicide bombings that were both claimed by ISKP targeting mosques on Oct. 15 and Oct. 8. The group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport where 170 Afghans died on Aug. 29.

ISKP killed 10 humanitarian workers on June 9 and bombed a mosque during a Muslim celebration, killing at least10 people on May 14. The United Nations implemented sanctions against ISKP in 2019 including travel bans, arms embargoes, and asset freezes for the group’s members.

ISKP became a serious threat in 2015 when the group began attacking civilian institutions including schools, hospitals and places of worship. At least 1,500 civilians died and thousands more were injured in the attacks. The group was less active in 2019 due to military presnce but picked back up in 2020. The ISKP attacks have targeted journalists, activists, health workers and religious minorities including Hazaras, Sikhs and Hindus.

“ISKP’s horrific attacks on civilians have not abated since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and appear to be increasing,” Gossman said in a statement. “The Taliban authorities need to urgently adopt measures to protect religious minority communities from attack.”

The Taliban government has promised increased security for religious minorities, however, they have committed large-scale murders of the Hazaras in the late 90s and more recently targeted Hazara journalists and communities. They also seized the Afghan government in mid-August and have struggled to run the country since. A vast majority of Afghan citizens are falling below the poverty line and facing starvation as the economy continues to decline.