Bahrain condemns terrorist blast in Kabul as toll hits 33

Manama : Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of at least 33 people and injured 65 others near a shrine in Kabul. 

Reiterating Bahrain’s firm and resolute rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, stressed the need for concerted efforts to eliminate this dangerous plague that poses a threat to world security and peace. 

The Ministry also expressed its profound condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and its wishes for speedy recovery to all those injured in this terrorist act. 

The statement affirmed Bahrain’s firm stand with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its support for the measures it takes to eliminate terrorism and maintain security and stability. 

The attack occurred when Afghans celebrated the Persian new year, know in Afghanistan as Nauruz, which is a national holiday. 

Meanwhile, in a statement attributable to his spokesperson, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. “Nowruz is a time of renewal and celebration, and should be a time for promoting the values of peace and solidarity,” he said, reiterating that those organised the attack “must be brought to justice.”

In a separate statement, Tadamichi Yamamoto, the head of the UN Mission, echoed the Secretary-General’s condemnation. “I reiterate that under no circumstances are such attacks justifiable, and I once again call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, at all times.”

In a press statement on the terrorist attack, members of the 15-nation Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack. “The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” the press statement said.

The US ambassador to Kabul John R. Bass also condemned the attack. “The United States and its people remain steadfast in their commitment to working with our Afghan partners to combat terrorism and to secure peace in the year ahead,” he said.

Based on statistics of the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), last solar year over 10,000 Afghan civilians were killed and wounded during attacks across the country – including 2,000 children.