35 killed in Kabul car bomb attack

ISLAMABAD: A Taliban suicide attacker detonated a car bomb in the western part of Kabul on Monday, killing up to 35 people and wounding more than 40, government officials said, in one of the worst attacks in the Afghan capital in recent weeks.

Police cordoned off the area, located near the house of the deputy government Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq in a part of the city where many of the mainly Hazara community lives.

“I was in my shop when suddenly I heard a terrible sound and as a result all of my shop windows shattered,” saidAli Ahmed, a resident in the area of Monday’s blast.Acting Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said at least 24 people had been killed and 40 wounded but the casualty toll could rise further.

Another senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk about the incident with the media, said the toll stood at 35 killed.That was in line with a claim on Twitter by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who said 37 “intelligence workers” had been killed. Mujahid said in a tweet claiming responsibility for the attack the target had been two buses that had been under surveillance for two months.

Government security forces said a small bus owned by the Ministry of Mines had been destroyed in the blast but the National Directorate for Security, the main intelligence agency, said none of its personnel had been hit.Three civilian vehicles and 15 shops were destroyed or damaged in the blast, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

In Monday’s blast the bus was carrying employees of the Ministry of Mines, passing from western Kabul to the downtown ministry during rush hour, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. It was struck by the car bomb as it passed through a busy area of the capital that is home to many Hazaras.

Multiple bodies and wounded people were seen in the street, surrounded by shattered glass as security forces cordoned off the area. The bus’ charred remains were left smoking in the middle of the road as the wounded were rushed to hospitals in ambulances as well as private cars and taxis.

“It was a huge explosion, my house nearly collapsed,” a neighbourhood resident who gave his name as Mostafa said, adding that the street was “filled with human flesh and blood”.“It was horrible,” said shopkeeper Momin. “It is a crowded area — many of my friends and other shopkeepers are either killed or wounded.”

Afghan presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi put the toll at 26 dead and 41 wounded.At a press conference, Murtazawi also said at least 35 people were killed in the hospital attack over the weekend.

All the victims were civilians, Murtazawi said, without specifying if they were patients or staff. “This is a cruel crime against humanity,” he added.Monday’s attack in Kabul came as the Hazara community had planned to hold a demonstration in the same neighbourhood to mark the one-year anniversary of twin bombings that killed 84 people in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

They had agreed to postpone the demonstration over security fears and after meeting with President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday.Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the suicide attack in Kabul that has resulted in the loss of precious lives of many innocent Afghans and injuries to scores.

“We express our sincere condolence to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured”, a press release said.“Terrorism is a common enemy and the Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” — Agencies

Our correspondent adds: Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the killings in the terrorist attack by evil forces in Kabul in a letter written to Ambassador of Afghanistan Omar Zakhilwal.

Raja Zafar, in the letter, prayed for peace and stability in both brotherly countries Pakistan and Afghanistan and hence the region.He also conveyed heartiest condolence to the aggrieved families and requested the ambassador to convey his message to the government and the people, especially the speaker of the Afghan National Assembly and chairman and deputy chairman of Senate.