- The Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly gun attack on a mosque that took place in Afghanistan's western province of Herat on Monday night during prayers. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- According to Taliban-appointed Afghan officials, six people were killed and one injured after an armed individual opened fire at worshippers "with a Kalashnikov." Afghanistan International
- The victims, members of the Shia Hazara minority, included the locally revered imam of the community mosque, as well as a woman and a child. KabulNow
- Last month, the regional branch of IS — which operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia — took responsibility for the deadly attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
- Hours after Monday's attack, Iran (which is predominantly Shia) unexpectedly declared its readiness to cooperate with the Taliban in the fight against terrorism, indicating a shift in regional dynamics. Afghanistan Times
- The Taliban has been in power in Afghanistan since August 2021, following the withdrawal of American and NATO troops from the country after two decades. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Narrative A:
- Despite promising to eliminate terror in Afghanistan, the Taliban has done little to fight militant groups since taking over. The Islamic State is now returning in full force, conducting deadly attacks in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries. Afghanistan is more dangerous than ever, as it reemerges as one of the world's largest terrorism incubators.
VOICE OF AMERICA
Narrative B:
- It's hard to refute that the Taliban has been successful in its fight against terror groups, including al-Qaida and IS. While IS remains a threat, its attacks have reduced dramatically since the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State isn't nearly as prominent as it was in the past, because the Taliban has made significant progress in locating and removing its key leaders.
WASHINGTON POST (LR: 2 CP: 5)
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 50% chance that the US will reopen its embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, by August 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)