Mohammad Karim Khalili, head of the High Peace Council (HPC), on Friday called on government and the NATO forces in Afghanistan to investigate the attack on a gathering of Afghan politicians in the west of Kabul.
The attack left 11 people dead and 95 others wounded, Nusrat Rahimi, a spokesman for Ministry of Interior Affairs.
He said that initial findings show that the attack was carried out by the Taliban. However, Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.
“People expect that it should be made clear that why, how and for what purpose such a horrific incident happened?” asked Khalili.
Khalili said another gathering was planned to be held on marking the 24th death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari’s, the leader of Hizb-e-Wahdat party, but he added that the event was canceled due to security issues.
Khalili, meanwhile, said Afghan politicians and government should work together on peace to make it a success.
A gathering was held in Balkh to mark the death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari where Mohammad Mohaqiq, Chairman of the People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, said he is ready to make peace with the Taliban despite that the group was involved in assassination of Abdul Ali Mazari.
“Let’s put aside the past, let’s sit like brothers. You (Taliban) are one side of the issue, and we are another side of the issue with our teams and friends,” said Mohaqiq, who has been dismissed from his post as second deputy chief executive, but he still continues to go to his office.
Mohaqiq said President Ghani does not have the authority to dismiss him and that he goes to his office as regular.
“Any hostile action by Ghani belongs to himself and does not have any relation to the Afghanistan people’s authority. He should cancel his decree (the dismissal order),” Mohaqiq added.
Addressing the same event, Atta Mohammad Noor, the CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami party and former governor of Balkh, criticized government for “failing” to prevent the attack on politicians gathering in Kabul.
“Why the mortar did not land on your (Ghani) palace,” asked Noor.
Thursday’s event was attended by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Acting Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, former President Hamid Karzai, Mohammad Mohaqiq, presidential candidate Mohammad Haneef Atmar, and Abdul Latif Pedram, head of the National Congress Party of Afghanistan and a presidential candidate.