The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement late Monday condemned the “terrorist” bombings in Kabul and Kandahar provinces that killed 41 people in total.
“The United States strongly condemns today’s senseless and barbaric attack in Kabul that killed 29 people and wounded dozens more, including several brave journalists and media professionals. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who were injured and killed, and we mourn all those who lost their lives,” the statement said.
It said that the independent media is a cornerstone of democracy, adding that “Despite today’s attack, the vibrant media landscape that has developed in Afghanistan will endure, in large part due to those journalists and media professionals who tragically died in today’s attack, but whose courageous and steadfast work helped lay the foundation for Afghanistan’s thriving and resilient independent media. The international community’s commitment to the Afghan people and a lasting peace in Afghanistan will not be shaken by such attacks.”
Pompeo said: “The United States, along with our Afghan and international partners, is committed to defeating ISIS (Daesh) in Afghanistan, which has claimed responsibility for this attack. We stand with the people, the independent media, and government of Afghanistan and remain committed to supporting the Afghan people’s efforts to achieve peace, security, and democracy for their country.”
In the meantime, the United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “is outraged” by the series of “terrorist” attacks in Afghanistan that caused numerous casualties among civilians, emergency responders, school children and journalists.
The statement said the double suicide bombing in Kabul that killed nine journalists “highlights once again the risks media professionals face in carrying out their essential work.”
Those responsible for Monday’s attacks in Kabul and Kandahar province “must be swiftly brought to justice,” it said.
The spokesman adds that “the secretary-general extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.”