On 7 March 2019, rockets and explosive blasts struck a commemorative gathering of the Hazara community in Kabul, killing several people and wounding dozens more. The assembly was held to mark the anniversary of a local Hazara leader, and high-profile officials were reported to be in attendance when the attack occurred. The strikes were widely seen as sectarian in nature and were claimed or attributed to extremist elements aiming to intimidate minority communities.
The targeting of Hazara civilians exacerbated long-standing ethnic and religious tensions and highlighted the particular vulnerability of minority gatherings to violence. The incident prompted condemnation across Afghan society and calls for better protection of public memorials and community events. It also fed into broader concerns about the security of civic and social activities in the capital.
