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Roundup: Massive blasts widely condemned in Afghanistan

Xinhua, June 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The three separate blasts that claimed 26 lives inclduing two suicide bombers and 14 Nepalese nationals and injured more than 50 others in Afghanistan on Monday have been widely condemned.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in a statement released by his office blamed the enemies of Afghanistan for the attacks, saying the terrorists by conducting subversive activities in the month of Ramadan the Muslim holy month want to terrorize the people.

In his message, the president also expressed sympathy with the families of Nepalese victims and Afghans who lost their nears and dears in the deadly blasts.

Similarly, Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah denounced the deadly bombings by saying, "I condemn the terrorist attack on those traveling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

In a suicide attack which targeted the minibus of Nepalese nationals reportedly worked as guards for Canadian embassy at 05:40 a.m. local time today 14 Nepalese citizens were killed and nine others including four Afghans injured.

Taliban outfit claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

Joining the condemnation, the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission also condemned the coward attack.

"The Taliban's actions repeatedly harm civilians in an effort to undermine the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to provide peace," said Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff, Communication in a statement released here.

"Horrific attacks like these show that, despite the Taliban's promises, they have a complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians," Cleveland said in the statement.

Similar bombing in a bazaar in Kasham district of the northern Badakhshan province at around 10:00 a.m. local time today claimed the lives of 10 civilians and injured 40 others, according to provincial government spokesman Nawed Frotan.

Moreover, a bomb blast injured five people including a member of Kabul provincial council Attaullah Faizani on the same day Monday.

Afghans from all walks of life have strongly condemned the three bombings in a single day as coward act of terror, calling upon militants to respect Ramadan, the Muslim holy month during which the faithful avoid eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.

A Kabul resident Abdul Ghani said, "Ramadan is the month of peace and reconciliation and killing people in this month is against teaching of Islam."

Earlier on the eve of Ramadan, Ulema or Religious scholars had asked Taliban to halt hostilities or at least observe ceasefire during Ramadan.

However, Taliban outfit in reaction described Ramadan as the month of Jihad or holy war and victory and vowed to intensify fighting in the month of Ramadan, a notion that has been widely condemned by Afghans. Endit