00:00 In a devastating attack on Thursday, a suicide bomber struck a private bank in Kandahar city
00:06 located in southern Afghanistan.
00:08 The blast claimed the lives of at least three individuals, with 12 others sustaining injuries,
00:12 according to officials.
00:14 The victims, all gathered at the new Kabul Bank branch to collect their monthly salaries,
00:19 fell prey to the heinous act of violence, as recounted by Inamullah Samangani, the head
00:23 of the government's Kandahar Information and Culture Department.
00:27 While Abdul Mateen Kani, spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry, confirmed the attack,
00:32 further details remain scant as investigations were underway.
00:36 Attribution of responsibility for the bombing remains uncertain, with no immediate claims
00:40 made.
00:41 However, the Islamic State group's affiliate, a prominent rival of the Taliban, has a history
00:45 of perpetrating attacks on various civilian targets across Afghanistan.
00:49 Kandahar city holds significant spiritual and political significance, serving as a focal
00:54 point for Afghanistan's leadership.
00:56 Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's supreme leader, is headquartered there, with
01:01 pivotal decisions reverberating from the city to Kabul, the nation's capital.
01:05 The Taliban's resurgence to power in August 2021 amidst the tumultuous withdrawal of US
01:09 and NATO forces after two decades, marked a pivotal moment in Afghanistan's history.
01:14 Despite initial promises of moderation, the Taliban swiftly reinstated a strict interpretation
01:19 of Islamic law, reminiscent of their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, instilling fear and
01:24 uncertainty among the Afghan populace.
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