The explosion at the mosque in Haska Mena district of Nangarhar province, which resulted in at least 72 dead and dozens wounded, has provoked strongly-worded responses from Afghan leaders and from the international community.
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said on Twitter: “The Mosque bombing in Nangarhar Province once again shows the terrorists’ utter disregard for human life and our faith. We pray for the martyrs & injured, but vow to punish the culprits…”
The blasts happened Friday at around 1:30 PM in the Jaw Dara area of the Haska Mena district during Friday prayers.
The United Nations condemned the incident in a statement.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the 18 October attack inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan…Those responsible for this attack must be held accountable,” the statement read.
Also, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), while condemning the targeting of civilians in the Nangarhar mosque blast, said it will initiate an investigation into the attack, and noted that “attacks against places of worship are serious violations of international law that may amount to war crimes”.
NATO also condemned the attack stating that it “will stand with Afghanistan and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to fight international terrorism.”
US ambassador John Bass in a tweet condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
Bass said that “killing worshippers assembled together in peace is unconscionable” and that “all Afghans have the right to live and worship together in safety.”
The European Union deplored the mass murder, saying the attack “aims at undermining hopes for peace and reconciliation.”
The British Embassy in Kabul condemned the deaths of worshippers during Friday prayers, and called for an end to the violence.
The UAE also strongly denounced the Nangarhar mosque attack and expressed its sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of victims.
Sediq Sediqqi, President Ghani’s spokesman, in a tweet strongly condemned the blasts and called out the Taliban for continuing to target civilians.
The Taliban have denied responsibility for the blasts.
