Killing aid workers in Afghanistan draws wide condemnation

The killing of nine aid workers in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province on Tuesday has drawn wide condemnation at home and abroad.

Unknown armed men, apparently Taliban fighters attacked an office of an aid agency in Zari district of Balkh province Tuesday morning killing nine people including a women, all the victims are Afghans.

Condemning the deadly incident in its strongest term, Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the enemies of peace, progress and development in Afghanistan.

"The president strongly condemned the terrorist attack against the office of aid workers which left nine employees of the office including a woman dead," a statement released by Presidential Palace Tuesday night said.

Similarly, the United Nations expressed its outrage on attack against aid workers and murdering nine civilians working with the People in Need agency, an aid organization financed by Czech Republic.

"Once again, I am appalled to be speaking out following the killing of aid workers who are providing much needed assistance in Afghanistan," said in a statement Mark Bowden, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.

The Headquarters of NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) has also strongly condemns the militant attack that killed nine Afghan aid workers in the northern Balkh province on Tuesday.

"This attack is another example of how militants are targeting and killing innocent men, women and children in their aimless campaign that continues to hurt innocent civilians," a statement of RS released here said.

"Those killed were dedicated to the well-being of their fellow Afghans, working with a respected international organization to build schools, hospitals and water projects," said Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications in the statement. Endi