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Kabul school bombings condemned worldwide

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Explosions targeting a high school in western Kabul on Tuesday have sparked widespread condemnation around the world.

Three explosions at a high school in western Kabul killed at least six people and injured 11, Afghan security and health officials said.

The blast targeted educational institutions and many of the casualties were young students.

"Three blasts have taken place...in a high school, there are some casualties to our Shia people," said Khalid Zadran, the spokesman for Kabul's commander.

He said later that six people had been killed and 11 injured in the explosions.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

An official familiar with the matter who declined to be named said the explosive devices had been hidden in backpacks and one had detonated inside the school gates, Reuters reported.

The incident was condemned both on a national and an international level.

Former president Hamid Karzai condemned the blast, calling it a crime against humanity and an act by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan and an act against education in the country.

The former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, also condemned the attack, calling those responsible the enemies of peace and development in Afghanistan.

The United States condemned the attacks and called for an investigation.

The US State Department in a statement offered condolences to the Afghan families and said the perpetrators must be brought to justice

"The United States joins the international community in expressing outrage at today's heinous attacks on the Mumtaz Education Center and the Abdul Rahim Shahid school in Kabul, Afghanistan. We offer sincere condolences to the families and other loved ones of those killed in these cowardly acts. The perpetrators must be brought to justice," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

"All Afghan children deserve to pursue their studies safely and without fear of violence," he added.

UN reacts to “heinous” attacks

The United Nations also condemned the deadly bomb blasts.

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, issued a statement strongly condemning the “horrific” attacks.

“Violence in or around schools is never acceptable. For the people of Afghanistan, already beleaguered by forty years of war, schools should be safe havens, and places where children can learn and flourish,” he said.

Alakbarov underlined that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) took to Twitter to condemn the “heinous” attacks.

“Those responsible for the crime targeting schools and children must be brought to justice,” the UNAMA tweet said, noting that Mission chief Deborah Lyons has extended her deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, and wishes for a speedy recovery for the wounded.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, also joined Lyons in extending condolences to the bereaved families.

“Afghanistan’s ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity is at great risk. It must be respected and kept safe,” Grandi wrote on his official Twitter account.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also denounced the bombings.

“I condemn the deadly attacks on schools in Kabul and send my deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Attacks against civilians & civilian infrastructure, including schools, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law,” Guterres tweeted.

Save the Children organization in turn said: “We are horrified and outraged at the reported attack on a high school in Kabul.

“Children in Afghanistan have endured years of violence. Enough is enough. They have the right to access a safe education,” Save the Children said, added that: “The time is NOW to Stop the War on Children.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International called the school bombing in Afghanistan a 'reprehensible attack' on religious and ethnic minorities.

Jasper Wieck, Special Representative of the German Federal Government for Afghanistan & Pakistan, U.S. Special Representative Thomas West and Chargé d’Affaires Ian McCary in series of tweets also strongly condemned the bombings.

“I strongly condemn today’s attacks in Kabul. Targeting the future of a country, its children & schools, is utmost heinous. It is the responsibility of the de facto authorities to protect the people of Afghanistan from violence & terror, no matter their age, gender & believes,” Wieck tweeted.

“The United States condemns in the strongest terms the horrific and cowardly attacks on students in Kabul today. No one should have to worry about their safety while being educated. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.” West tweeted.

“I deplore the horrific attacks on Mumtaz Education Center and the Abdul Rahim Shahid school in Kabul. We offer deepest condolences to the victims & families of the deceased. All Afghans should be able to pursue their studies safely and without fear,” McCary tweeted.

IEA says attack was “painful and sad”

IEAs officials meanwhile said they are committed to finding and punishing the perpetrators of the attack and preventing such incidents from taking place in future.

“The attack on our innocent children was very painful and sad. The Islamic Emirate is responsible for the security of every citizen,” said Inamullah Samangani, IEA’s deputy spokesman.

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OIC special envoy meets with Pakistani officials for talks on Afghanistan

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The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s special envoy for Afghanistan Tarig Ali Bakheet this week met with Pakistan’s foreign minister Amna Baloch for talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

According to a statement issued by the OIC, both sides shared perspectives on political, economic and humanitarian issues regarding Afghanistan.

Bakheet also delivered an official written message from the OIC Secretary-General on the latest developments regarding the organization’s work and activities in Afghanistan to support the Afghan people.

Both sides underscored the need to continue to coordinate, consult, and cooperate in the interest of stability and progress in Afghanistan.

Bakheet also met with Ahmed Naseem Warraich, Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia). During this meeting, both sides exchanged views on various international formats for engagement on Afghanistan and possibilities to strengthen and enhance these initiatives.

“They also discussed the efforts of the OIC and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to pursue a constructive dialogue with the de facto authorities on various issues including girls’ education, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian aspects,” the OIC’s statement read.

Bakheet also met with Kazim Niaz, Pakistan’s minister of economic affairs and shared the progress made in the operationalization of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF) since the mandate entrusted by the extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on the ‘Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan” held in Islamabad on 19 December 2021.

He emphasized the need to strengthen the AHTF by mobilizing more resources for the Fund.

On his part, Niaz highlighted that Pakistan played a leading role in collaborating in the initial response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in 2021.

He also shed light on Pakistan-funded projects in Afghanistan including hospitals, scholarships, and infrastructure projects.

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IEA rejects latest UN report on women in Afghanistan

“This survey is not accurate. Unfortunately, like opinions, it is not always prepared based on information from inside Afghanistan but on propaganda,” said Mujahid.

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The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday in response to the UN Women report released this week that it is untrue and is based on "propaganda".

“This survey is not accurate. Unfortunately, like opinions, it is not always prepared based on information from inside Afghanistan but on propaganda,” said Mujahid.

“We have many women in Afghanistan who are engaged in business and work and have progressed in their lives. We still have different fields where women are active in the framework of government,” he added.

According to the report, the Islamic Emirate’s implementation of a series of decrees, directives and practices over the past three years has been “aimed at systematically removing women from Afghan public life and decision-making positions – across almost all sectors.

“This stream of edicts has also included a ban on girls and young
women pursuing secondary and university-level education in Afghanistan,” the report read.

The UN also stated that the near “wholesale exclusion of women and girls from broader society, coupled with the overlapping economic and humanitarian crises” has caused a marked deterioration in the living conditions for the overwhelming majority of Afghans.

UN Women also said this “is resulting in shifts in community attitudes towards gender norms and a mental health crisis within families across Afghanistan.”

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IEA repatriates bodies of two killed in attack on Afghan migrants on Iran-Pakistan border

Presently, the bodies of two martyrs, along with 34 eyewitnesses, some of whom sustained injuries during the incident, have been repatriated by the committee

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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has repatriated the bodies of two deceased Afghans killed in the Kalgan Valley in Iran, deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said on Thursday.

Fitrat stated that following reports of the shooting of Afghan migrants along the Iran-Pakistan border earlier this month, the Islamic Emirate launched an investigation.

“Thus far, based on the collected evidence, explosions and gunfire have targeted Afghan nationals within the Kalgan Valley, situated in Iranian territory,” Fitrat said.

“Presently, the bodies of two martyrs, along with 34 eyewitnesses, some of whom sustained injuries during the incident, have been repatriated by the committee.

“Certain individuals remain in Iran and Pakistan, and the committee is actively engaged in locating and repatriating them,” he said.

According to him, the investigation remains ongoing, and that detailed findings will be “disseminated upon the conclusion of the investigation.”

Two weeks ago reports emerged of the killing of migrants at the Iran-Pakistan border.

An Iranian-based human rights organization Haalvsh reported that as many as 250 Afghan migrants had been gunned down while trying to cross the border.

Haalvsh reported the group of migrants, totalling about 300, had also been targeted with RPGs.

Iran’s special envoy and ambassador to Kabul Hassan Kazemi Qomi said at the time that the reports were not true.

“As of now, reliable sources confirm that the news about the deaths of dozens of illegal citizens at the Saravan border is not true," he said.

Qomi said however that responding “legally” to the “illegal entry of unauthorized nationals” was “the legitimate right of countries, and the border guards of any country are obliged to prevent the entry of illegal nationals.”

 

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