An explosion at a mosque in the Afghan city of Herat on 2 September has killed a notable Taliban cleric and scholar, Mujeeb Rahman Ansari, as well as 18 civilians, according to local police reports.

“Mujib Rahman Ansari, with some of his guards and civilians, have been killed on their way toward the mosque,” said Herat’s police spokesperson, Mahmood Rasoli.

#Breaking A huge blast has rocked one of the biggest mosques in #Afghanistan's western city of Herat.
The explosion is believed to have killed its influential imam – Mawlawi Mujib Rahman Ansari – among at least 13 other casualties according to local media. pic.twitter.com/6RUlK74xzw

— Our World (@MeetOurWorld) September 2, 2022

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now, yet majority of the frequent terror attacks in Afghanistan have been carried out by ISIS.

In late June, at a gathering of thousands of scholars, Ansari had  spoken in strong defense of the Taliban, condemning anyone who stood against their administration, and declaring that whoever questions the authority and laws implemented by the Taliban should be executed.

Taliban official Abdul Nafi Takor confirmed the blast, but refrained from disclosing any further information.

This attack comes a few weeks after the one year anniversary of the Taliban’s victory over the US occupation in August 2021. Despite the numerous attacks against the Taliban government, the authorities claim that they have improved national security since their consolidation of power.

The UN has also raised concerns about the increased frequency of attacks in Afghanistan claimed by a local branch of ISIS, with the last prominent mosque bombing in Afghanistan having occurred on 18 August.

Since the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the local branch of ISIS, known as ISIS-K, has stepped up its attacks on the Taliban and the Afghan society.

Their attacks have targeted Shias, particularly those of the ethnic Hazara minority in Afghanistan.

In October last year, a bomb blast hit the Imam Bargah Mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing 32 and wounding 53.

Just days before this incident, over 100 worshippers were killed and wounded after a suicide bombing at a mosque in Kunduz that was carried out by a Uighur member of ISIS.