Deadly Kabul bombing draws strong denunciation

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Sarkarez area bomb attack in capital Kabul, which left 26 dead and wounded, has drawn national and international condemnation.

Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said eight civilians were killed and 18 others injured in Friday’s bomb blast in the 6th police district of the capital. The explosives were planted in a hand-cart, he added.

Former president Hamid Karzai condemned the attack as a violation of all Islamic teachings and a brutal act against civilians.

He believed the only way to get red of such “conspiracies of outsiders” was unity among the Afghans.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, also denounced the blast in a tweet. “Any attack on religious places is an unforgivable and inexcusable felony which demonstrates the enemy’s cowardice.”

Ex-chairman of Meshrano Jirga Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, writing on his Twitter handle, slammed the attack and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.  He also sympathised with the victims’ families.

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett said the so-called Islamic State (IS) was behind the attack. He reminded Taliban authorities of their responsibility for the protection of all Afghans and bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. He shared his condolence with the victims of the attack.

Nasser Kenani, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, also condemned the attack and said it targeted innocent civilians.

Reuters reported that ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attack. The insurgent group said 20 peoples were killed in the explosion.

The attack occurred in the Shiite-dominated area two days are before Yaum-i-Ashur.

aw/nh/mud