Afghan attacks draw widespread condemnation

KABUL, India and several other countries and leaders on Wednesday strongly condemned yesterday’s deadly attacks in Kabul and southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

Fifty people were killed and more than 100 wounded in two back to back explosions in front of the parliament building in Darul Aman area of Kabul on Tuesday.

Later in the day, a bomb explosion inside the governor’s house in Kandahar killed 11 people, including the deputy governor, and injured 18 others, including the governor and the UAE ambassador. Five UAE diplomats were among the dead.

Also yesterday, a dozen people were killed and wounded in a suicide attack in southern Helmand province. The attacks drew strong condemnation on national and international levels.

The US Embassy in a statement strongly condemned the deadly attacks in Kabul and Kandahar.   The US extended condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the senseless and cowardly acts.

The US embassy said they believed Afghanistan deserved peace and security -- not deliberate and murderous attacks that victimized innocent Afghans serving their fellow citizens.

It said the US government and people were and would remain committed to standing with the people of Afghanistan and its elected representatives in their fight against terrorism and in working toward a peaceful and prosperous future.

“We stand with the Government of National Unity and people of Afghanistan in bringing an end -- once and for all -- to these barbarous attacks against its people.”

Police on Wednesday said they had arrested five suspects in connection with the Kandahar bomb attack.

The US State Department condemned the suicide bombings in Kabul and Kandahar and said the attack on parliament amounted to an attack on democracy. “An attack on parliamentarians is frankly an attack on democracy,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.

The UN also condemned the attacks in a statement. The world’s body assistance mission (UNAMA) said such attacks on diplomats and common people were not acceptable.

The attacks were also denounced by Pakistan, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore and other countries.  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that his country stood by the people of Afghanistan in the war against terrorism.

The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul in a statement extended deep condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan and wished early recovery of those  wounded in the attacks. The statement said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Pakistan new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday said Pakistan Army stood shoulder to shoulder with Afghan troops and the people in the war on terror.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that General Bajwa strongly condemned terror attacks in Afghanistan and condoled deaths at hands of cowardly terrorists.

Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attacks in Kabul, Kandahar and Helmand. In a statement, the CEO said terrorists and their supporters wanted to continue killing innocent people under any circumstances.

He said the attack on the guesthouse in Kandahar was an unpardonable act and was in conflict with all Islamic and Afghan values. Abdullah said terrorist groups refusing to accept peace and hell-bent on bloodshed should understand they would not be spared by the Afghan forces.

Former president Hamid Karzai also condemned the attacks and the killing of civilians, lawmakers, diplomats and government officials. He said the attacks were against Islamic and human values.

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