UN chief condemns terrorist attack outside Kabul airport

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed condemnation on the terrorist attack in the Afghan capital Kabul and sent condolences to the victims, Reuters reported.

The deadly twin explosions reported near the Kabul airport have killed dozens of people including 13 U.S. soldiers and left many others injured, according to multiple media sources.

“First of all, I’d like to express in the strongest possible way, my total condemnation about the horrific terrorist attack in Kabul; to send my condolences to the families of all those that perished – Afghans and those that were helping there, the Afghans, and died serving the lives of others. I have also asked my Special Representative [Deborah Lyons] to convey directly to Kabul my deep condolences to the Afghan people,” Guterres said, responding to reporters outside the UN Security Council.

According to Reuters the ISIS-K, locally known as Daesh, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the Kabul airport, saying it was targeting “translators and collaborators with the American army”.

The blasts happened after Western nations warned of a terrorist attack at the airport as thousands of people gathered waiting for evacuation flights to leave Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden, vowed on Thursday the United States would hunt down those responsible for twin explosions at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan and said he had asked the Pentagon to develop plans to strike back at them, Reuters reported.