A deadly attack on civilians in western Afghanistan has sparked widespread international condemnation and has seen an outpouring of condolences from individuals and organizations across the country.

This comes after unidentified gunmen opened fire on families gathered for a picnic near a Shia shrine in Deh Mehri village, in Injil district of Herat province on Friday. According to confirmed reports, at least 11 people were killed and 11 others wounded, including women and children.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed condolences to the victims and their families, describing the incident as a “terrible crime.”

“We express our condolences to the victims and to the families affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said the UN’s Officer-in-charge of Afghanistan Georgette Gagnon, who also called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the protection of all communities across Afghanistan.

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett meanwhile strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “brutal” and urged that those responsible be brought to justice. He noted that the victims were members of the Shia community and stressed that such targeted violence must not go unpunished.

The European Union also denounced the killings, stating that violence against civilians is unacceptable under any circumstances. The bloc extended its condolences to the victims’ families and expressed solidarity with those affected.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Saturday’s double-header in the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings record important victories as the tournament gathered pace.

In the first match, Punjab Kings defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets.

In the second game, Chennai Super Kings overcame Delhi Capitals in a closely contested match, with Chennai holding their nerve in the decisive moments to secure the win.

CSK won by 23 runs.

The results provide both Punjab and Chennai with valuable momentum as teams begin to establish themselves in the early stages of the competition.

Sunday’s Matches

Attention now turns to Sunday’s double-header.

Lucknow Super Giants will face Gujarat Titans in the first match of the day, with both sides aiming to strengthen their position in the standings.

Later, Mumbai Indians take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-profile clash expected to deliver another thrilling contest.

All matches are being broadcast live and exclusively across Afghanistan on Ariana Television Network.

As Iranian and US delegations are present in Islamabad, Iranian media report that talks between the two sides have begun.

The negotiations are being conducted indirectly, with Pakistan acting as a mediator.

According to reports, Iran had set conditions for the start of the talks, including a halt to the war in Lebanon and the release of its frozen assets.

An IRIB correspondent in Islamabad reported that the US has agreed to release Iranian assets, and that the conflict in Lebanon has been limited to the southern part of the country.

However, US officials have not yet confirmed any agreement on the release of Iran’s frozen assets.

The talks come after 40 days of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.