Pakistan condemns terrorist attack on Afghan’s president rally
ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Pakistan has strongly condemned the terrorist attack outside an election rally of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Parwan province on Tuesday.
In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also said Pakistan condemns terrorist attack in all its forms and manifestations.
The FO spokesperson said Pakistan fully supports the Afghan efforts for restoring complete peace and stability in the country through the strengthening of the democratic process in Afghanistan.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the loss of innocent lives in the attack is highly condemnable. He said peace in Afghanistan is important for peace and stability of the region.
The foreign minister also prayed for the departed souls and early recovery of the injured.
24 die as blast hits Ashraf Ghani’s election rally in Parwan province
Earlier in the day, an explosion near an election rally attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani killed 24 people and injured 31 others in Charikar, capital of Parwan province, north of Kabul, health officials said.
Ghani had been due to address the rally in Charikar, capital of Parwan province, north of Kabul, when the suspected militant attack occurred.
“Women and children are among them and most of the victims seem to be the civilians. Ambulances are still operating, and the number of casualties may rise,” said Abdul Qasim Sangin, head of the provincial hospital.
A local government official said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. “The president is unharmed,” Ghani’s aide told Reuters. There was no claim of responsibility from any militant group after the blast.
In a separate incident, an explosion killed at least three people in the center of Kabul, police officials said. Ambulances and Afghan forces rushed to the blast site.
Taliban commanders have vowed to intensify clashes with the Afghan and foreign forces to dissuade people from voting in the Sept. 28 presidential election, when Ghani will bid for a second five-year term.
