Ten Killed in Gun Attack on Sufi Shrine in Afghanistan

According to Abdul Matin Qani, a spokesman for the ministry, the attack took place at a remote shrine in the Nahrin district, where a group of Sufi worshippers were gathered for their weekly religious ritual. “A man fired on Sufis taking part in a weekly ritual at the shrine, killing ten people,” Qani told AFP.

The assailant, whose identity and motive remain unclear, reportedly targeted the crowd during the traditional Sufi ceremony, which is an important spiritual practice for followers of the Sufi branch of Islam. Witnesses said the attacker opened fire indiscriminately, leaving several others wounded in addition to those who died at the scene.

Authorities quickly responded to the attack, but no group has yet claimed responsibility. However, the Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), has previously carried out similar attacks on Sufi and Shiite Muslim communities, viewing them as heretics. The group has targeted religious minorities and places of worship in an attempt to sow sectarian violence in the country.

The shrine, located in the sparsely populated area of Nahrin, has long been a place of pilgrimage for local Sufi followers, making it an important religious site for the region. The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised fears of further violence against religious minorities in Afghanistan.

The incident comes amid rising security concerns in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s grip on power has been challenged by both local insurgents and international terrorist groups. Despite the Taliban’s assurances of stability following their return to power in 2021, attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, including Sufis, have continued to occur with alarming frequency.

Condemnation of the attack was swift, with religious leaders, human rights organizations, and local politicians denouncing the violence and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. The Ministry of Interior has promised a full investigation and vowed to take action to prevent further attacks on places of worship across the country.

As the investigation continues, the Afghan government faces mounting pressure to improve security, particularly for vulnerable religious communities that are often targeted by extremists seeking to stoke division and terror.