Two powerful explosions, injuring four Taliban fighters, followed by gunfire at the provincial police headquarters in Kandahar have stirred confusion and alarm. While local police described the incident as an accidental detonation at an old ammunition depot, sources suggest it may have been a covert strike targeting a secret intelligence centre linked to the banned group Fitna-tul-Khawarij (TTP).
Recovered documents reportedly tie the location to the group’s Quetta network, raising suspicions of a deliberate operation. Some insiders claim a drone strike may have caused the blasts, deepening the mystery. While crucial materials were recovered, other sensitive items remained inaccessible due to heavy security around the site.
According to a statement from the Taliban police command’s press office, the explosion took place while the four injured fighters were guarding the container. The statement provided no further details on the nature of the ammunition or the extent of the injuries.
One local source indicated the explosions originated within the Taliban’s “reform commission” at the police headquarters, though the Taliban statement did not confirm this. Residents also observed ambulances rushing to the scene in the aftermath.
Kandahar serves as the primary base for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who is known to reside intermittently in Aino Mina, a luxurious township that houses several senior Taliban officials. Reports suggest Akhundzada frequently stays at a guesthouse once used by Gen. Abdul Raziq, a prominent police commander under Afghanistan’s previous government.
The cause of the explosions remain unclear, and the Taliban has not indicated whether it suspects foul play. Local accounts and footage shared underscore the intensity of the incident, which rattled the city early Thursday morning.
