The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday “unreservedly” condemned the assassination attempt on Maidan Shar Mayor Zarifa Ghafari.
Ghafari survived an armed attack in Kabul on Saturday morning while she was travelling to Wardak province.
She is also a recipient of the 2020 International Women of Courage award which is given by the State Department.
“As I have said before, the future of Afghanistan will not be won by those who seek to accomplish their political goals through violence and terror,” the statement by Pompeo said.
“Women belong in the public square, in Afghanistan and every other country around the world… The use of violence to intimidate will only undermine the process. Any attempt to silence Mayor Ghafari and other brave Afghan women leaders will not succeed.”
He added that the peace negotiations in Doha represent the “best chance” in a generation for a “durable, inclusive peace” in Afghanistan.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on Ghafari yet.
