Since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital of Kabul in mid-August, clashes between Sunni factions (of which the Taliban are part) and their Shiite “brothers” have marked days of violence in the country. This Friday, at least 32 people were killed and another 45 injured in an explosion at a Shiite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. The explosion occurred at the Bibi Fatima Mosque, the largest mosque for Shiite worshipers in the city.
Interior Ministry spokesman Qari Sayed Hosti said on Twitter that “we are sorry to hear of the explosion in the Shiite brotherhood mosque in the first district of Kandahar city, as a result of which several of our compatriots were killed and wounded.”
Taliban special forces arrived in the area to “determine the nature of the incident and bring those responsible to justice,” the spokesman added.
The witness told AFP that he heard three explosions: one at the main door of the mosque, another in the southern area, and the third where believers were performing their ablation.
The incident came a week after dozens of people were killed and over 100 injured when a mosque in Kunduz province was blown up by ISIS (Islamic State), an equally Sunni group.
The Taliban-led Afghan government promised a quick response at the time, but not fast enough to prevent Friday’s attack.
Analysts have said since August that one of the main challenges facing Afghanistan will be precisely the tensions between Sunnis and Shiites – two of dozens of ramifications, some of which are considered heretical, within the complex edifice of Islam. The Taliban is considered a moderate Sunni, but the Islamic State is radical and considers Shiites to be traitors to the true principles of Islam and is always interested in Western influence penetrating the world. On the contrary, there is no indication that radical Sunni attacks on Shiites inside Afghanistan will diminish.
This internal war may have other consequences, even from an international point of view. Iran, the most important Shiite country, could choose to go to open war with Afghanistan if it is confirmed that differences between the two sides persist.
Meanwhile, according to the Al-Jazeera network, Qatar, in agreement with FIFA, has withdrawn almost 100 players and their families from Afghanistan. The group flew from Kabul to the Qatari capital Doha on a flight that carried 357 passengers on Thursday, including many female athletes playing football in Afghanistan.
FIFA confirmed that it played an important role in the evacuation of athletes and their families “after difficult negotiations” and “with the support of Qatar.” The leadership of world football said that football players are “considered to be at greater risk.”
