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UN, Iran, India Condemn Kabul Attack That Killed 36 Civilians

The office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the Taliban suicide attack in Kabul on Monday that left at least 36 people dead and dozens of others wounded.
 
In a statement on Monday, the UN body called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in the country that is claiming the lives of so many civilians. 
 
“The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns today’s deadly Kabul suicide attack, which has occurred in the context of a countrywide intensification of violence impacting civilians,” reads the statement. 
 
The statement notes that Monday's attack comes amid commemorations of the 23 July 2016 Dehmazang square attack, which killed and injured hundreds of demonstrators who were exercising their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

“This morning, a suicide attacker detonated a car packed with explosives against a bus carrying civil servants in Kabul’s Ghulayee Dawa Khan area, killing more than 20 passengers and bystanders, and injuring more than 40. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack,” said the statement. 
 
“I am personally outraged by all attacks against civilians,” said Pernille Kardel, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA. “The detonation of another large suicide device in a busy, civilian-populated area is egregious, cowardly and bereft of humanity.”

“UNAMA reminds anti-government elements that employment as a civil servant tasked with providing public services to Afghan citizens on behalf of the government is a civilian function. Attacks deliberately targeting civilians, and the intentional killing of civilians, are war crimes,” the statement says. 

“In the context of so much suffering and death, I wish to commend members of the Enlightenment Movement for choosing to address their grievances resulting from last year’s attack through dialogue, not violence,” said Kardel. “I urge all parties to seek similarly peaceful ways to resolve their differences, and welcome the government’s initiative in reaching out to hear the concerns of all Afghans.”

Suicide and complex attacks have so far been the leading cause of civilian casualties perpetrated by anti-government elements in 2017, according to UNAMA’s midyear report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, released last week.

The Mission continues to verify reports about other civilian casualties, including alleged attacks against healthcare facilities and personnel in Ghor, and airstrikes impacting civilians in Nangarhar. The Mission reiterates its condemnation of attacks in civilian-populated areas, and urges all parties to the conflict to cease targeting civilians, read their statement. 
 
Meanwhile, the Pakistani embassy in Kabul has also condemned the attack in Kabul.

“The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the suicide attack in Kabul today that has resulted in the loss of precious lives of many innocent Afghans and injuries to scores. We express our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured,” a press release issued by the Pakistani embassy in Kabul said. 

“Terrorism is a common enemy and the Government of Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” their statement read.
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack.
 
“Strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Kabul. My heart goes out to the victim's families. We stand in solidarity with people and government of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism,” Modi said via Twitter. 
 
Iranian foreign ministry also denounced the attack in Kabul as barbaric and act of terrorism. 
 
“The oppressed people of Afghanistan and the government will firmly continue their efforts against extremism and terrorism and the Iranian people and government will stay together with the Afghan people like the past,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. 
 
Amnesty International has also condemned the Kabul bombing by the Taliban and said it was a war crime.
 
“Kabul bombing claimed by Taliban is 'a war crime',” Amnesty International said. 

 
Back  in May, a powerful truck bomb  hit the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital, Kabul killing at least 150 people and injuring over 600. 
 
It struck near Zanbaq Square in the heavily fortified zone, with civilians said to be the main casualties.

Kabul has accounted for at least 20 percent of all civilian casualties this year, according to recent United Nations figures.

Monday's attack comes at a time that the Afghan security forces are grappling Taliban offshoots on multiple fronts across the nation and fierce fighting is ongoing in Baghlan, Badakhshan, Helmand and Kunduz provinces. 
 
Afghan people have frequently blasted government for failing to define a better security strategy to thwart attacks on populated areas and cities. 

UN, Iran, India Condemn Kabul Attack That Killed 36 Civilians

UNAMA said in a statement that attacks deliberately targeting and killing civilians is a war crime. 

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The office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the Taliban suicide attack in Kabul on Monday that left at least 36 people dead and dozens of others wounded.
 
In a statement on Monday, the UN body called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in the country that is claiming the lives of so many civilians. 
 
“The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns today’s deadly Kabul suicide attack, which has occurred in the context of a countrywide intensification of violence impacting civilians,” reads the statement. 
 
The statement notes that Monday's attack comes amid commemorations of the 23 July 2016 Dehmazang square attack, which killed and injured hundreds of demonstrators who were exercising their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

“This morning, a suicide attacker detonated a car packed with explosives against a bus carrying civil servants in Kabul’s Ghulayee Dawa Khan area, killing more than 20 passengers and bystanders, and injuring more than 40. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack,” said the statement. 
 
“I am personally outraged by all attacks against civilians,” said Pernille Kardel, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA. “The detonation of another large suicide device in a busy, civilian-populated area is egregious, cowardly and bereft of humanity.”

“UNAMA reminds anti-government elements that employment as a civil servant tasked with providing public services to Afghan citizens on behalf of the government is a civilian function. Attacks deliberately targeting civilians, and the intentional killing of civilians, are war crimes,” the statement says. 

“In the context of so much suffering and death, I wish to commend members of the Enlightenment Movement for choosing to address their grievances resulting from last year’s attack through dialogue, not violence,” said Kardel. “I urge all parties to seek similarly peaceful ways to resolve their differences, and welcome the government’s initiative in reaching out to hear the concerns of all Afghans.”

Suicide and complex attacks have so far been the leading cause of civilian casualties perpetrated by anti-government elements in 2017, according to UNAMA’s midyear report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, released last week.

The Mission continues to verify reports about other civilian casualties, including alleged attacks against healthcare facilities and personnel in Ghor, and airstrikes impacting civilians in Nangarhar. The Mission reiterates its condemnation of attacks in civilian-populated areas, and urges all parties to the conflict to cease targeting civilians, read their statement. 
 
Meanwhile, the Pakistani embassy in Kabul has also condemned the attack in Kabul.

“The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the suicide attack in Kabul today that has resulted in the loss of precious lives of many innocent Afghans and injuries to scores. We express our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured,” a press release issued by the Pakistani embassy in Kabul said. 

“Terrorism is a common enemy and the Government of Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” their statement read.
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack.
 
“Strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Kabul. My heart goes out to the victim's families. We stand in solidarity with people and government of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism,” Modi said via Twitter. 
 
Iranian foreign ministry also denounced the attack in Kabul as barbaric and act of terrorism. 
 
“The oppressed people of Afghanistan and the government will firmly continue their efforts against extremism and terrorism and the Iranian people and government will stay together with the Afghan people like the past,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. 
 
Amnesty International has also condemned the Kabul bombing by the Taliban and said it was a war crime.
 
“Kabul bombing claimed by Taliban is 'a war crime',” Amnesty International said. 

 
Back  in May, a powerful truck bomb  hit the diplomatic area of the Afghan capital, Kabul killing at least 150 people and injuring over 600. 
 
It struck near Zanbaq Square in the heavily fortified zone, with civilians said to be the main casualties.

Kabul has accounted for at least 20 percent of all civilian casualties this year, according to recent United Nations figures.

Monday's attack comes at a time that the Afghan security forces are grappling Taliban offshoots on multiple fronts across the nation and fierce fighting is ongoing in Baghlan, Badakhshan, Helmand and Kunduz provinces. 
 
Afghan people have frequently blasted government for failing to define a better security strategy to thwart attacks on populated areas and cities. 

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