Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned an attack on a mosque in Kohat city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during Friday prayers.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry’s spokesman described attacks on places of worship as “unjustifiable and condemnable.”

The ministry also expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the incident.

At least 16 people were killed and 57 others injured in the blast in Kohat on Friday.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Imam Shaqiq Balkhi Industrial Township at the Hairatan Two-Way intersection in Balkh province.

Speaking at the ceremony, Baradar said the Islamic Emirate’s priority is to gradually transform Afghanistan into a productive country and turn its young population into a productive workforce.

He said efforts are also underway to connect industries, production and markets and make Afghan products available in regional and international markets.

Baradar described the Balkh industrial township as a practical demonstration of the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to developing an industrial and productive economy.

According to Baradar, the project will help address the shortage of industrial land in Balkh, create opportunities for businesses, reduce dependence on imports and provide jobs for thousands of people.

He said Balkh is one of Afghanistan’s key commercial, transit and industrial provinces and called for the Hairatan port and transport route to play a greater role in exports.

“Hairatan should not only be a route for imported goods and regular traffic,” Baradar said, adding that it should become an important transit corridor for exporting Afghanistan’s processed and manufactured products.

Baradar also called on the international community to expand formal economic relations with Afghanistan and remove financial and banking restrictions.

He said the Islamic Emirate has both the capacity and determination to participate in regional and global economic partnerships.

At the ceremony, Baradar urged industrialists to invest in different sectors within the new township and said the government would provide the necessary facilities and cooperation.

The Balkh Industrial Township will be developed on 22,000 jeribs of land. It is expected to provide space for businesses involved in processing raw materials, manufacturing standardized products and exporting finished goods.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has said that Afghanistan wants to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, praising the Kingdom’s role in reconstruction and in promoting peace and stability in the country.

In an interview with Al Arabiya English, Mujahid said Afghanistan wants continued dialogue and cooperation with Pakistan and would welcome a broader role for Saudi Arabia in helping resolve disputes between the two countries.

Mujahid said security challenges involving the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch groups and others had existed in Pakistan for years and should be addressed internally rather than blamed on Afghanistan.

He also said Afghanistan does not allow the TTP to operate on its territory and does not support armed groups or permit Afghan soil to be used against other countries.

Mujahid warned that Afghanistan would defend itself and deliver a “crushing response” if Pakistan violated Afghan territory under the pretext of self-defense.