Daily Times

KABUL: Islamic State group claimed responsibility for twin explosions Saturday that ripped through crowds of Shia Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 80 people and wounding 231 others in their first major attack in the Afghan capital.

The bombings, apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country well known for Shia-Sunni harmony, came as thousands of Hazaras gathered to protest over a multi-million-dollar power line.

Charred bodies and dismembered limbs littered the scene of the attack, with ambulances struggling to reach the site as authorities had overnight blocked key intersections with stacked shipping containers to control movement of the protesters.

“As a result of the attack 80 people were martyred and 231 others were wounded,” the interior ministry said in a statement.

“Based on initial information, the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers…The third attacker was gunned down by security forces.”

The wounded overwhelmed city hospitals, officials said, with reports emerging of blood shortages and urgent appeals for donors circulating on social media.

The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than IS, strongly denied any involvement in the attack.

IS claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq news agency, calling it an attack on Shias.

“Two fighters of the Islamic State detonated their explosive belts in a gathering of Shias in… Kabul,” Amaq said.

The attack represents a major escalation for the IS group, which so has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar.

The National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency, said the attack was masterminded by Abu Ali, an IS commander in Nangarhar’s volatile Achin district.

The attack came as thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand that a multi-million-dollar power line pass through their electricity-starved province of Bamiyan, one of the most deprived areas of Afghanistan with a large Hazara population.

“The horrific attack on a group of peaceful protestors in Kabul demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

In a statement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the carnage, adding that the casualties included security officials.

“Holding protests is the right of every citizen of Afghanistan… but terrorists entered the protests, and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens including members of security forces,” the presidential palace said.

The protest march was largely peaceful before the explosions struck as the demonstrators sought to march on the presidential palace, waving flags and chanting slogans such as ‘death to discrimination’.

The 500-kilovolt TUTAP power line, which would connect the Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with electricity-hungry Afghanistan and Pakistan, was originally set to pass through the central province.

But the government re-routed it through the mountainous Salang pass north of Kabul, saying the shorter route would speed up the project and save millions of dollars.

Pakistan also strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist acts in Kabul that resulted into the loss of a number of precious human lives and left several others injured.

“The government and the people of Pakistan extend their sincere condolences and profound sympathies to the families of the bereaved people and convey their earnest prayers and wishes for early recovery of those injured in this heinous act of terrorism,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and reaffirmed commitment for continued efforts and cooperation for eliminating this menace.