By Islamuddin Sajid
ISLAMABAD (AA) – Fourteen Shia Hazara community members were killed in central Afghanistan while receiving pilgrims returning from Karbala in Iraq, the interim Afghan Taliban administration on Friday confirmed.
In a statement on X, Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also strongly condemned the killings and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
Mujahid said 14 innocent people were killed and six others were injured in the attack between Daikandi and Ghor provinces in central Afghanistan.
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan vehemently condemns this barbaric act and views it as its responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of the people," he said.
He added that Taliban forces are actively pursuing the perpetrators to ensure they are brought to justice.
Local Tolo News said the victims were residents of the Sang-Takht and Bandar districts of Daikundi who had gone to welcome pilgrims returning from Karbala in Iraq.
The terrorist group Daesh/ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports, the attackers stopped a bus carrying residents under the pretext of taking photographs of passengers, but then they opened fire on them.
The Daesh/ISIS terrorist group has previously claimed responsibility for several attacks in Afghanistan, including those targeting Taliban officials and the minority Shia community in recent years.