Suicide Bomber Kills 14 in Attack on Afghan Anti-ISIS Figure’s Family

Taliban Denies Responsibility for Jalalabad Attack

A suicide bomber attacked a gathering of tribal leaders at the house of high-profile anti-ISIS figure Obaidullah Shinwari today, killing at least 14 and wounding 13 other members of his family in the city of Jalalabad.

The Taliban were quick to issue a statement denying any involvement in the incident. Jalalabad is the main Afghan base of the local ISIS affiliate, and they are almost certainly the more likely culprit given Shinwari’s history of condemning them.

On the other hand, the tribal meeting was to celebrate the recovery of Samiullah Shinwari, one of Obaidullah’s sons, eight months after a Taliban kidnapping. Shinwari’s family dominates local politics, and is facing calls to crack down on all insurgent groups.

President Ghani issued a statement vowing security forces would use all available resources to track down those responsible for the attack, saying they wouldn’t allow anyone who sheds innocent blood to get away with it.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.