Hold perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism to account; India condemns terror attack in Kabul

New Delhi, March 07: Strongly condemning the terror attack at an event in Afghanistan capital Kabul that killed at least 32 people and injured dozens, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the international community must unite in the fight against terrorism and hold the perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism to account.

 

A number of political leaders were present on Friday at the event, organised to commemorate Shaheed Mazari, who was a leader of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras community. "India strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack at the event commemorating Shaheed Mazari in Kabul today, where a number of senior political leaders were present," the MEA said.

 

 

"We express heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the injured and to the Government and people of Afghanistan," it said. The terror attack came days after the Taliban and the US inked a landmark peace deal, which provides for withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Coming back to the terror attack on the ceremony marking the death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, several top Afghan leaders including Abdullah Abdullah was present on the occasion but escaped unharmed. The terror attack was claimed by ISIL. In a tweet, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani condemned that attack. He said, "The attack is a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan."

 

 

"The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians escaped the attack unhurt," Fraidoon Kwazoon, Abdullah's spokesman was quoted. It is worth mentioning here that it was the deadliest attack on civilians in Afghanistan this year. Last year, the United Nations and Taliban signed a peace deal that aims for the complete withdrawal of US and NATO troops within 14 months.