Pakistan strongly condemns terrorist attack in Kabul

Pakistan urged all parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Kabul, which resulted in loss of several precious lives and injuries to many others.

According to the statement issued by the Foreign Office, “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered in this tragedy.” “We are relieved that the leadership has remained unharmed.”

“Pakistan has consistently supported a negotiated political solution of the Afghan conflict,” the statement said and added this is a historic juncture.

Pakistan also urged all the parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Earlier today, at least 27 people were killed in an attack on a political rally in Kabul, officials said, in the deadliest assault in Afghanistan since the US signed a withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

The attack highlights the glaring lack of security in the heavily fortified Afghan capital just 14 months ahead of the scheduled withdrawal of all foreign forces under an agreement signed on February 29 by the US and the Taliban.

Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said women and children were among the dead with an additional 29 wounded, adding that "special forces units are carrying out clearance operations against the attackers". "The figures will change," he said.

Nizamuddin Jalil, a health ministry official, gave a slightly higher toll, saying 29 people had been killed and 30 others wounded.

The Taliban immediately denied responsibility for the assault, which occurred at the commemoration ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari -- a politician from the Hazara ethnic group, most of whom are Shiite.

An Islamic State group-claimed attack on the same ceremony last year saw a barrage of mortar fire kill at least 11 people. Rahimi had earlier said that gunfire had erupted from a construction site near the ceremony in the city s west, which is largely Shiite. Photos on social media showed several dead bodies being collected after the attack.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the massacre, calling it a "crime against humanity". The ceremony was attended by many of the country s political elite, including Afghanistan s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah.

The interior ministry later confirmed to reporters that "all the high-ranking officials were safely evacuated from the scene". "We left the ceremony following the gunfire, and a number of people were wounded, but I do not have any reports of martyred people for now," Hazara leader Mohammad Mohaqiq told Tolo News.