Pakistan urges Afghanistan to tackle terrorism as ‘shared concern’ after Kandahar attack
DAWN.COMMar 23
IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing in Southern Afghanistan
The Facts
Amaq, the news agency linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS), has reported that the militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar that targeted the Taliban.
According to local sources, at least 27 people were killed and 43 others wounded after a bomber detonated explosives among civilians in front of the New Kabul Bank branch in the city on Thursday.
The Spin
Narrative A
This tragic attack renews calls for dialogue and cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan to address the issue of terrorism — a shared concern — in all its forms and manifestations. The ruling Afghan Taliban, however, has armed terrorists and offered them safe haven to attack Pakistan instead. Hopefully, they will now understand that such actions can only deteriorate regional security.
Narrative B
Pakistan has blood on its hands, as the country has supported the once-defeated Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) to create instability in Afghanistan. Though Islamabad urges the Taliban to join collective efforts against terrorism, the Pakistani government actually shelters terrorists and uses them to launch attacks against its neighbor.
Nerd narrative
There's a 25% chance that state-based conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan will cause at least 1,000 deaths in a single year before 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.