At least six people were killed and another 24 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Russian embassy in Kabul on Wednesday evening, according to Afghan officials.
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The Taliban openly threatened to target the television channel a year ago after it reported allegations of summary executions, rape, kidnappings and other abuses by its fighters during the battle for Kunduz.
Its purported involvement in Wednesday’s attack isn’t a major surprise, given the Taliban’s longstanding and violent opposition to free expression and other rights.
Rahimi condemned the bombing, saying the media and freedom of the press should never come under attack.
The attack targeted a bus owned by Afghanistan’s biggest media organization, Moby Group.
“Afghan insurgents should respect the right for journalists to operate without fear for their lives from deliberate targeted attacks”, Gossman said.
The Taliban particularly boosted its operations in Afghanistan after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ended its military mission in late 2014 and launched a non-combat operation instead.
The new arrangement “enables the United States to more actively target [IS] in Afghanistan”, the official said.
“Afghan journalists have faced increasing intimidation and violence from both state and non-state figures in recent years”, HRW said.
The Taliban claim responsibility for the bombing, wrote Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban’s self-declared Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, via email.
Tolo is one of the most popular television stations in Afghanistan.
Separately yesterday, the U.S. government issued a warning that it had received reports militants were planning to attack a hotel or guesthouse frequented by foreigners in Kabul.
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The Taliban has increased attacks on civilian targets in recent months as part of a fierce offensive that has wrested territory from the Afghan government. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Afghanistan’s eastern Nangahar province in December and discussed the growing IS presence there with Army Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Afghanistan.
