As was feared that the Taliban rule will wreak havoc on Shias of Afghanistan, our worst fears have seen the time. For the two consecutive Fridays, Shia mosques have been targeted and bombed in Afghanistan. Last Friday saw Shia carnage in the city of Kandahar during Friday prayers. Over 40 people were killed and several injured when a suicide attack was carried out in the largest Shia Mosque in the city. A week before on Friday, 55 people were killed in cold blood in the same way in Kunduz. Both times the ISIS-K claimed the responsibility for the attack clearly stating their agenda of sectarian killings. After the takeover of Taliban, this was the third attack in the country by ISIS-K. It seems like Afghans are in for a long battle against a central authority which infringes most of its rights and against terrorist organizations that easily take away their right to life.
The security situation of Afghanistan is deteriorating since the withdrawal of the US forces. First the Afghan army collapsed within days even though it was trained and funded by the US and now terrorist groups are attacking minority groups even though the Taliban – a militant group itself – promised that they will be safeguarded. Although it was evident that the Taliban will not tighten the noose around other militant organizations and jihadi groups for support, the world still chose to wait and watch and Pakistan even went so far as to propagate the idea of waiting and watching; it really wanted to give the Taliban a chance. The Taliban also gave their word that minorities will be safeguarded against all threats but this attack which was carried out in Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold suggests that it did not provide ample security to the Shia community. Moreover, the Taliban have never shown their abhorrence against other sects. The international community must come forward to safeguard the Shias of Afghanistan. Iran can play an important role in this regard.
It seems like the Taliban are failing to uphold the promises they made during the US-Afghan talks. They are failing to provide security to minorities and they are increasingly placing restrictions on women. It was also reported that some hardliners from the Afghan Taliban have joined the IS. This will only make the Taliban weak and Afghanistan is in for many more years of war which will consequently have a negative impact on Pakistan in terms of refugee influx and attacks on minorities in Pakistan as well.
