Afghan president expresses condolences over UAE envoy's death

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed condolences and sorrow for the death of United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Afghanistan, said the Afghan Presidential Palace on Wednesday.

"President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is deeply saddened over death of Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Afghanistan," the palace said in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, al-Kaabi succumbed to injuries received following a terrorist attack in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar on Jan. 10.

Some five other UAE diplomats together with six Afghan officials were killed and 17 people were injured after the attack which occurred in a governor guesthouse in provincial capital of Kandahar city.

"The Ambassador and a number of UAE Diplomats who visited Kandahar last month to open Al-Nahyan Charitable Foundation were targeted in a terrorist attack as a result of which the Ambassador sustained severe injuries.

"The Emirati Ambassador and his colleagues paid the highest sacrifices during a humanitarian mission for peace and development of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan will never forget their sacrifices," the statement noted.

The Afghan leader was quoted in the statement as saying that "since Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates have strong and enduring relations, the terrorist attack on UAE diplomats will not sour our relations."

President Ghani also offered his condolences and sympathies to late al-Kaabi's family and the government of UAE, the statement reads. Enditem