Truck bombing in Kabul’s safest place questionable: MPs

KABUL members on Wednesday said the morning truck suicide bombing in a most secure area of the nation’s capital was “questionable”, slamming the government for its failure to ensuring people’s security.

At least 80 people were killed and 463 others wounded, mostly civilians, in the massive bombing in Wazir Akbar Khan diplomatic enclave. The blast took place near Zanbaq Square, German Embassy and NATO forces camp.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said the dead and injured had been evacuated to Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan, Jamhoriat and Emergency Hospitals.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast while the Taliban had denied involvement.

Lower house member from Kabul Nazifa Zaki grumbled: “How this vehicle reached Wazir Akbar Khan and crossed the many check points? This attack in a most secure area of Kabul city has created many questions in people’s minds.”

She charged security officials with dereliction of duty in ensuring security of Kabul, saying those responsible be held accountable.

Another Wolesi Jirga member Allah Gul Mujahid said no one was hanged in the 16 years for suicide blasts and bomb explosions.

He asked President Ghani to execute death row prisoners involved in terrorist attacks so that others shun aiding suicide bombers.

Lawmaker Amir Khanyar from Nangarhar, said: “Police are busy in money extortion and other corrupt activities and have forgotten their original duty of ensuring security of citizens.”

Fawzia Kofi from Badakhshan condemned the attack as against Islamic and Afghan teachings, said: “No one with a pistol can walk around the Presidential Palace; but a tanker full of explosives can reach the safest point of the city, it has created hundreds of questions in people’s minds.”

He said not only security officials had failed to ensure security, but no one in the government had a sense of responsibility.

Ramazan Bashardost, a representative from Kabul, said: “Explosives and suicide bombing materials aren’t moved or transferred in ordinary vehicles, but in cars with tinted windows and specific number plates.”

Ghazni lawmaker Mohammad Arif Rahmani said suicide bombings and blasts were carried out with the help of ‘spies within the system’ and until armored and tinted-glasses vehicles of all government authorities weren’t stopped and checked, these bombings would continue and couldn’t be prevented.

Meanwhile, Homayoon Homayoon, 1st deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga, who chaired Wednesday’s session, strongly condemned the attack, saying it was the handiwork of the enemies of Islam.

He said the enemies of Afghan people would not reach their goals by carrying out such attacks.

He asked the Wolesi Jirga to withdraw the vote of confidence the house had given to security bosses in case they didn’t take needed steps for ensuring public security.

Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai, 2nd deputy speaker, also called the current security situation as worrisome and asked security officials said: “Don’t force the nation’s home to retake the trust vote from you.”

sns/ma