Dozens of people including US troops killed in Kabul blast, India condemns blasts

Kabul, August 27: Amid the ongoing evacuation processes in Afghanistan, Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport yesterday shook with the two explosions that killed at least killed dozens of Afghans and 13 United States service members.

 

 

According to the Afghan News channel, a total of nearly 73 Afghan citizens who were waiting outside Kabul airport to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan were killed in the blast while over 150 were injured.

 

The blasts came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. One of the blasts took place near the airport's Abbey Gate and the other close to the Baron Hotel near the Baron Gate. The blast happened at a time when thousands of people had gathered outside the airport in a bid to flee the country.

 

Following the two blasts, a third blast also occurred in the vicinity of the airport when a Taliban vehicle hit an IED in central Kabul.

 

 

According to the source, the Islamic State (IS/ISKP) has officially claimed responsibility for the Kabul airport attack. They have also released the photo of the one suicide bomber. Telegram channel that an IS member named Abdul Rahman al-Logari carried out “the martyrdom operation near Kabul Airport”.

 

The attack took place around the time when US President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet his national security team regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

 

 

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the explosion was the result of a complex attack that led to a number of casualties which include Afghans as well as Americans. According to the U.S. officials initially 11 Marines and one Navy medic were among those who died. Eighteen service members were wounded and officials warned the toll could grow.

 

 

 

 

Reacting to this incident, India's Ministry of External Affairs condemns the attack and said such incidents “reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists”.

 

 

In a statement late Thursday night, the external affairs ministry said, “India strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Kabul today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the injured.”

 

 

 

"Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the injured. Today’s attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists," the statement added.