Gun Attack on Sufi Shrine in Afghanistan Leaves Ten Dead

Translate In Arabic

KABUL: A gun attack on a Sufi shrine in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province left ten people dead, an interior ministry spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

The attack took place in the Nahrin district, where a man opened fire on Sufis taking part in their weekly ritual at the shrine. According to Abdul Matin Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, the assailant targeted the worshippers, killing ten people.

A local resident, who knew some of the victims, described how worshippers had gathered at the Sayed Pacha Agha shrine on Thursday evening for a Sufi chant. "A man shot at the dozen worshippers," he said, speaking anonymously. The next morning, when people arrived for morning prayers, they discovered the bodies.

The identity of the attacker remains unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Sufi shrines and their followers have been frequent targets of violence in Afghanistan, particularly during religious rituals and gatherings. Such attacks have persisted since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, despite their promises to restore security.

In September, the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) claimed responsibility for a similar attack in central Afghanistan, which killed 14 people who had gathered to welcome pilgrims returning from Karbala, Iraq.