By Our Correspondent
Kabul: In yet another powerful suicide attack, two dozen of teenagers mostly girls were martyred while dozens of others were critically injured and rushed to hospitals on Friday.
Kabul: In yet another powerful suicide attack, two dozen of teenagers mostly girls were martyred while dozens of others were critically injured and rushed to hospitals on Friday.
Afghanistan authorities have said a suicide bomb attack on an education center in Kabul martyred at least 23 people, most of whom are believed to be young women. Taliban secured major cities soon after the takeover, however, Kabul is still at the hit list of terrorists who are, now, attacking soft targets including education centers.
” Security has been significantly improved across Afghanistan. The Airport, hospitals, government offices, and other sensitive installations have been secured by the Taliban. This is why terrorists have turned their on to soft targets including kids, women, children and education centers,” a senior government official told ‘Islamabad Telegraph’ on Friday.
What makes the attack most important is that the explosion took place at the Kaaj education center, in a predominantly Hazara neighborhood – an ethnic minority group that has long faced oppression both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to the Spokesperson of ‘The Islamabad Telegraph’ in Kabul, the suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the students who were practicing a university entrance exam at 7:30 a.m., local time (11 p.m. ET). This was also confirmed by the spokesperson of the Kabul Police Mr. Khalid Zadran.
Abdu Ghayas Momand, a doctor from Ali Jinnah Hospital told reporters that 23 people had been killed and 36 more injured. He said the death toll may rise as some of the injured were critical.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack until the filing of the report.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.
According to CNN, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the attack in a tweet Friday.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls the attack on Kaj training center in the 13th district of Kabul a big crime, strongly condemns it, and expresses deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of this incident.”
Mr. Zabihullah Mujahid
“Serious measures will be taken to find and punish the perpetrators,” he added.
UNICEF said it was “appalled by the horrific attack” in a tweet Friday.
“This heinous act claimed the lives of dozens of adolescent girls and boys and severely injured many more,” it said. “Violence in or around education establishments is never acceptable. Such places must be havens of peace where children can learn, be with friends, and feel safe as they build skills for their futures.”
The United States said it “strongly condemned the attack” in a statement on Twitter.
“Targeting a room full of students taking exams is shameful; all students should be able to pursue an education in peace and without fear,” the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission to Afghanistan wrote.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, there have been multiple attacks against the Hazara community.
The Islamic State of Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against the Hazaras and been linked to three more that have killed and injured at least 700 people, according to Human Rights Watch.
“The Taliban authorities have done little to protect these communities from suicide bombings and other unlawful attacks or to provide necessary medical care and other assistance to victims and their families,” the report added.
A string of attacks in Kabul have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, two Russian embassy employees were among six people killed in a suicide blast near the Russian embassy, and in August, an explosion at a mosque during evening prayers killed 21 people and injured 33 more.
