KABUL (SW) – The deadly assault on first vice president Amrullah Saleh has been widely condemned.
The Presidency said in a statement that terrorists and their foreign backers cannot undermine people’s trust in democracy and the future of Afghanistan with such crimes. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the security and defense forces’ fight against the terrorists continues with seriousness and determination.
The US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ross Wilson, while condemning the attack, reiterated strongly support for Afghanistan’s democratic institutions and leaders, including, Vice President Saleh. “We strongly support efforts that we hope begin soon in Doha toward lasting peace and an end to this kind of violence”, he said.
Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, also condemned the attack on Saleh. Abdullah said the attack on the first vice-president at a time when the government was set to start intra-Afghan peace talks and the people wanted to end the war and bloodshed showed that the enemies did not want peace in Afghanistan.
Abdullah called for a serious investigation into the attack by the relevant institutions.
Among others, NATO also condemned the attack that killed 10 people and injured 15 others. “I strongly condemn #Kabul attack targeting @AmrullahSaleh2, killing & injuring many civilians. Enemies of peace continue to ignore the will of the Afghan people to stop violence & start intra-Afghan negotiations. #NATO stands with ANDSF for a secure #Afghanistan", the Alliance’s Senior Civilian Representative Stefano Pontecorvo tweeted.
First Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Wednesday survived an attempt on his life in Kabul, officials confirmed. The ‘sworn enemies’ of Afghanistan today tried again to harm the first vice president, Saleh’s office said.
At least 10 people were killed and 15others were injured in this bomb blast in the Taimani area of Kabul's 4th police district, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said.
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