A regional branch of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Taliban official in northeastern Afghanistan. The attack took place on Tuesday in Badakhshan province.

Zabihullah Amiri, head of the information and culture department in the province, was shot dead while travelling to the provincial capital, Faizabad.

The Islamic State-Khorasan group said its fighters targeted him with machine guns and also killed one of his guards.

Amiri was a nephew of Amanuddin Mansur, the governor of Helmand province. Afghanistan’s information and culture ministry confirmed the attack and said one of the assailants was killed while another was arrested.

The ministry described the incident as a cowardly act and insisted that such attacks would not weaken the government’s resolve.

Taliban officials have repeatedly promised to restore security across the country since returning to power in 2021.

Despite these assurances, sporadic attacks continue. The Islamic State-Khorasan group has claimed responsibility for several previous incidents, including attacks in Kabul. Security forces remain on high alert in the affected areas.

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