The Taliban has confirmed that the explosion outside Kabul Bank in Kunduz province on Tuesday was the result of a suicide attack, killing at least five people, including military personnel and civilians.
Jumaddin Khaksar, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Kunduz police command, stated that seven others were injured in the attack.
Khaksar confirmed, “A suicide attacker carrying explosives detonated himself near Kabul Bank in Kunduz province.” He added that the Taliban is conducting an investigation to determine those responsible for the attack.
However, local sources told Afghanistan International that the actual number of casualties is significantly higher than the figures reported by the Taliban.
An eyewitness at Kunduz Regional Hospital reported that 14 bodies had been brought to the facility, while another hospital source claimed that at least 17 bodies had been received. Other sources have suggested the death toll could be even higher.
According to reports, several of the dead and injured were transferred to other medical centres, including Sarhadi Hospital in Kunduz and the Corps Medical Centre.
The suicide bombing occurred around 8:30 AM on Tuesday, 11 February, outside the Kabul Bank office in Kunduz city.
Sources confirmed that two bank security guards were killed in the attack, a fact later acknowledged by the Taliban.
Most of the casualties were Taliban members who had gathered at the bank to collect their salaries.
Following the attack, the Taliban deployed hundreds of forces to the area, restricting civilian movement and preventing people from taking photographs at the scene, according to sources.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
In response to recent security threats, several Taliban offices have reportedly suspended salary payments through banks and have directed their security personnel and military staff to collect wages from military bases or ATMs instead.
This measure was reportedly implemented to reduce the risk of attacks targeting Taliban members at public financial institutions.
