ISLAMABAD: At least 80 people were killed and hundreds other injured on Wednesday when a massive truck bomb ripped through Kabul’s busy diplomatic area, bringing carnage to the streets of Afghan capital and shattering windows hundreds of metres away.
Public Health Minister Dr Ferozuddin Feroz told Pajhwok news agency that 80 people were confirmed dead while 350 injured were evacuated to several hospitals in the capital city after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded in high-security Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood. The health minister said death toll could rise since many of the injured were critical. A Kabul-based senior journalist Bilal Sarwari, however, quoted multiple sources as saying that at least 120 people had lost lives and more than 400 people were injured in the bombing.
Afghan media quoted Najeeb Danish, a spokesman for the interior ministry, as saying that the blast occurred at 8.30 am, in the morning rush hour. German Foreign Ministry said the attack was carried out in the immediate vicinity of the German Embassy, killing an Afghan security guard and wounded several mission staff.
“German embassy officials were injured but now all employees are safe,” Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. “Attacks like this do not diminish our resolve to keep supporting the Afghan government in stabilising the country,” he added.
The Foreign Office in Islamabad said the blast also caused damage to the residences of some Pakistani diplomats and staff living in the close vicinity and inflicted minor injuries to some. Pakistani officials in Kabul told Daily Times by phone that the blast blew out window panes of some of the houses of embassy officials. At least car of one official was also damaged. BBC said an Afghan driver was killed and four of its journalists were injured in the truck bomb blast. “It is with great sadness that the BBC can confirm the death of BBC Afghan driver Mohammed Nazir as he was driving journalist colleagues to the office,” the BBC World Service said in a statement. “Four BBC journalists were also injured and were treated in hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening,” the statement said.
The leading Tolo TV said its staff member Aziz Navin, 22, was also killed while on his way to work. He worked in the IT department for MOBY, the holding company of TOLO TV and TOLO News.
Taliban denied involvement while their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack. “The Islamic Emirate condemns every such blast which targets civilians, kills innocent people and has no genuine target. We want to assure the people that we have no link with the Kabul blast,” he said in a statement.
The Islamic State has not issued any statement so far.
TV footage and images showed dozens of cars destroyed at the blast site. Tolo TV reported at least 50 cars were destroyed and residents and shopkeepers affected up to one kilometre away. A large number of people rushed to hospitals to donate blood to save the lives of the injured.
Angry Afghans took to the social media to question the capability of the government and security agencies to deal with the security situation.
Wazhma Frogh, a known woman activist, snubbed those who shifted the blame on Pakistan.
“Today’s explosion could not happen without the insider help. Pls stop blaming Pakistan for the involvement of Afghan supporters to terrorists,” said Frogh, who has 80.3K followers.
Massoud Hossaini, the 2012 Pulitzer winner journalist in Kabul said on Twitter, “Today’s Kabul attack shows that Afghanistan’s gov’t is not able to protect its citizens! How a tanker full of explosives entered WAK! (Wazir Ababar Khan)?
Section of Afghan media reported that water-tanker used in the attack had a security clearance and a permit to enter the area, raising serious concerns about the possible penetration of the terrorists.
Several major attacks in recent months including suicide attack on military centre in Mazar-e-Sharif, attack on military hospital in Kabul and attack in the governor guest house in Kandahar were carried out with the help of insiders, according to Afghan officials.
The Kabul attack that has taken place just days before an international conference in Kabul has raised serious concerns about the fragile situation in the war-ravaged country. Over 20 countries have been invited to the June 6 meeting that is called ‘Kabul Process’.
A senior Afghan diplomat in Islamabad, Zardasht Shams, told Daily Times on Monday that President Ashraf Ghani had floated the idea of inviting major powers and regional countries to explore ways for peace, security and reconciliation. It is unclear if the conference will take place as per schedule on June 6.
Although Taliban insurgents distanced themselves from the Kabul attack, they have stepped up attacks since launch of Spring Offensive in late April.
The blast forced the US Embassy in Kabul to cancel all appointments for routine American Citizen Services and reminded all US citizens that serious threats to safety and security exist in the city of Kabul and throughout Afghanistan.
The US Embassy said online that travel to all areas of Afghanistan remains unsafe due to militant attacks, direct and indirect fire, suicide bombings, and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne or other improvised explosive devices.
Pakistan joined the world community to condemn the terrorist attack. The prime minister, National Assembly speaker, Foreign Office and chief of army staff issued separate statements to denounce the blast and express solidarity with the government and the people of Afghanistan.
“The people and government of Pakistan extend their heartfelt sympathies and deepest condolences to the government and the people of Afghanistan and the bereaved families,” a Foreign Office statement said.
President Ashraf Ghani said the enemies of the Afghan people committed an inhumane and callous crime by targeting fasting compatriots. “Committing war crimes and killing the innocent people in the name of Islam, terrorist groups are fully ignorant of religious teachings. These criminals always target sacred locations, mosques, religious scholars, children and women,” he said in a statement.
He called on the world particularly the Muslim nations to ‘ramp up pressure on those supporting terrorist outfits so that terrorism should not be used as an instrument against other countries’.
Nazar Mutmaeen, a Kabul-based Afghan political analyst, said such attacks are carried out by those elements who find a justification for the continuation of war in Afghanistan. “With such huge blasts, the elements want to create an impression that Afghanistan is still a lawless country and the US and NATO troops should stay longer in Afghanistan,” Mutmaeen told Daily Times from Kabul.
