It was early dawn that gun fires rocked West Kabul. However, it did not last long but alarmed the people. Later on it was revealed that two suicide bombers had tried to enter into a Mosque located on Shahid Mazari Street, western part of the Kabul city, and they intended to open fire on early morning worshipers. Both were wearing the Afghan police uniform which has become a very common tactics of militants in carrying out suicide bombings.
Reportedly, they could not make to enter into Mosque and encountered security forces patrolling around the area. As a result of fire exchange, both of them were killed and three civilians were injured.
In declaration released subsequently by National Directorate of Security (NDS), it was said that the two suicide bombers wanted to open fire on worshipers.
It also highlighted that both of them were Pakistani citizens and had membership of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an illegal armed group widely blamed for sectarian violence in Pakistan.
It was the second attack that the group is blamed for. The first one was the deadly suicide bombing in Dec. 2011 when a suicide bomber blew himself among worshipers celebrating the death anniversary of Imam Hussein (A.S), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). As a result, around hundred people were killed and hundreds were injured. Right after the attack, the group claimed the responsibility. This time however it has not but Afghan intelligence service says that they belonged to the group.
Generally, it is said that such attacks are carried out on two purposes. First, they intend to deal blow to Shiite sect of Islam because Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is an extremist group. Its members believe that killing Shiites are not against Islamic teachings and they believe that Allah Almighty will reward the doers.
The second aim is to spree sectarian clashes in the country. The group is responsible for major part of sectarian violence across Pakistan that has left thousands of dead and wounded, including women and children. Perhaps, it intends to spree similar bloodshed in Afghanistan.
The victims of Laskar-e-Jhangvi in Pakistan often claim that leaders of the group are not persecuted on account of crimes they have been committing. Rather they enjoy a clandestine support. If the allegation is true, then Afghan government, particularly security establishments, should closely watch the group’s links and its activities.
Though the group is not capable to carry out detrimental attacks in the country as it does inside Pakistan, we should be highly cautious about the religious intolerance. If the group continues targeting specific targets, the possibility of sectarian mistrust may increase which will bring unfortunate consequences.