Devastation in Jalalabad (tweeted by Harbib Rahmanzai, Medical Doctor | Working for United Afghanistan, UN, Kabul)

The situation in Afghanistan appears more unstable by the day as the city of Jalalabad suffered a series of attacks from suicide bombers leaving 35 people dead and 125 wounded. Two attacks were close to banks where government employees and security forces were gathered to receive their paychecks and another was near to a shrine. Children were also caught up in the attack condemned by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović who happened to be in the area for a visit. Afghanistan media Tolo quoted Simonovic stating,

“the use of suicide bombs and other devices in such an indiscriminate way by insurgent groups clearly constitutes a war crime, and those responsible for organising or perpetrating such attacks must be brought to justice.”

President Ashraf Ghani’s office said, “carrying out terrorist attacks in cities and public places are the most cowardly acts of terror by terrorists targeting innocent civilians” The Islamic Emirate (Afghan Taliban) were quick to condemn the crime tweeting, “2 blasts hit civilians this morning at a shrine and front of Bank in Jalalabad, we condemn/deny involvement in both”. Zabiullah Mujahid spokesperson for the Taliban said, “it is a sad incident. The mujahideen had no role in it.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (TTP JA) spokesperson, Ehsanullah Ehsan also issued a press release condemning the bombings stating, “they can’t be Muslims who attack civilians”.

Shaykh Maqbool addressing those giving bayah to IS in AfPak region

(video still) 

There was confusion as to who was responsible as according to the BBC, the attacks were allegedly claimed by Shahidullah Shahid of the Islamic State who was said to have named the bomber however this could not be independently verified and was later denied. It now appears someone else may have been using his name.

Islamic State deny responsibility for Jalalabad attack

Shahidullah Shahid was the name previously used by Shaykh Maqbool when he was spokesperson for TTP. He later left and joined Wilayat Khorasan (AfPak Province) of IS. TTP released the following statement at that time,

“Shahidullah Shahid is an “imaginary” name which is used by a person who becomes Spokesman of TTP Central. Shaykh Maqbool has also been spokesman of TTP Central, therefore, he was called Shahidullah Shahid.

Long ago, another brother had replaced Shaykh Maqbool and was promoted to spokesman of TTP (Means, He became Shahidullah Shahid). We did not announce that due to our policy. But Shaykh Maqbool used this name (Shahidullah Shahid) for his individual purpose. We want to make it clear that Shaykh Maqbool is not Shahidullah Shahid (He’s not our Spokesman anymore).”

Former TTP commanders giving bayah to IS (still from video)

ISIS does however have a presence in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Back in January 2015, a 16 minute video from Khorasan Media was sent to journalists which showed a group of fighters including Shakh Maqbool pledging bayah (spiritual allegiance) to Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Qureshi al Hussaini, Islamic State (IS) see following link,

“Are IS gaining a foothold in AfPak? New video release shows some allegiance in the region”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/are-is-gaining-a-foothold-in-afpak-new-video-release-shows-some-allegiance-in-the-region/

In March the Independent reported, “it has taken a while for official recognition of the ISIS threat in Afghanistan. Last month General Ali Murad, of the Afghan army, stated that “elements of Isis, masked men, are active in Zabul [another Taliban dominated province] and Helmand and have raised black flags. Now, they are trying to spread their activities to the north.”

Please note the following article was updated to include denial from Islamic State.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.