UPDATES WITH CLAIM OF RESPONSIBILITY, REACTIONS FROM AFGHAN PRESIDENT, JAMIAT PARTY LEADER, TURKEY, PAKISTAN
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – At least 10 people, mostly policemen, were killed in a suspected suicide attack targeting a political gathering in a hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday, security officials confirmed.
Basir Mujahed, spokesman for Afghan National Police (ANP) in Kabul, told Anadolu Agency that a suicide attacker at the entrance of Qasr-e-Naveen hotel in Kher Khana area has killed seven policemen and two civilians including the attacker while seven policemen are wounded.
A gathering in support of the governor of Balkh province Atta Mohammad Noor, who is chief executive of the Jamiat-e-Islami (JIA) party, a rival to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, was underway inside the hotel when it was attacked. None of the participants were present at the venue.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed it was a suicide attack.
Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued on its Amaq news agency.
The Taliban rejected their involvement in the attack.
Earlier in June, a funeral of another JIA party leader was hit by a twin-suicide attack for which the security forces blamed the Taliban's Quetta-based Shura (Council) in Pakistan.
Six people were killed and more than 80 injured in the attack, while JIA top leaders, including Chief Executive Officer of the National Unity Government Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, present at the funeral escaped unhurt.
While condemning the latest attack, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said attacking civil society's activities, mosques and public places is a clear violation of humane and Islamic values.
''The Afghan government has always backed civil liberties and gatherings, and stresses that the enemies of Afghanistan with such acts cannot hinder our people's efforts for civil liberties and democracy,'' he said in a statement.
Rabbani, who is also the president of JIA, condemned the attack while raising questions about the 'precision of the terrorists' in attacking his party.
Condemnation poured in over the attack from the international community.
Afghanistan's neighbor Pakistan said in a statement from its Foreign Ministry: “We are deeply grieved at the loss of precious lives in this dastardly terrorist attack. We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. ”
In a statement the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “We condemn this terrorist attack. We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, speedy recovery to the wounded, and convey our condolences to the brotherly Government and people of Afghanistan.
* Islamuddin Sajid contributed to the report from Islamabad, Cansu Dikme contributed from Ankara
