Taliban-appointed governor of Balk province in Afghanistan, Mohammad Dawood Muzammil, has been pronounced dead following his assassination.

Muzammil, known for fighting against Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), became the highest-ranking official to be assassinated by the terrorist organization IS-K since the Taliban came to power, officials said.

According to AFP, Balkh police spokesperson Asif Waziri stated that "two people, including Mohammad Dawood Muzammil, the governor of Balkh, have been killed in an explosion this morning" that targeted the governor's office on the second floor.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a tweet that "We are saddened to hear that the governor of Balkh Alhaji Mullah Muhammad Daud Muzamal was martyred in an explosion by the enemies of Islam," and confirmed that "An investigation into the incident is underway."

په خواشینۍ سره مو خبر تر لاسه کړ چې د بلخ والي الحاج ملا محمد داؤد مزمل د اسلام د دښمنانو لخوا په یوه چاودنه کې شهید شو.
انالله لله وانا الیه راجعون
د پیښې په اړه پلټنه روانه ده.
شهید ملا مزمل ته جنة الفردوس، کورنۍ او متعلیقنوته یې جمیل صبر او عظیم اجر غواړو. pic.twitter.com/UYLWbi5G4S

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 9, 2023

According to a government statement, Muzammil had met, earlier on Wednesday, two deputy prime ministers and other top officials who had visited Balkh to discuss an irrigation project in northern Afghanistan.

Since last year, IS-K has grown to be the Taliban government's top security threat, conducting assaults on Afghan civilians, as well as foreigners and foreign interests.

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