Widespread Outcry Over Civilian Attacks In Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif
Afghan citizens have expressed their concerns regarding the two explosions that occurred on Thursday and resulted in civilian casualties in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Afghan citizens have expressed their concerns regarding the two explosions that occurred on Thursday and resulted in civilian casualties in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Tamim Asey, a former Deputy Minister of Defence, strongly criticised the Taliban's intelligence services.
He stated, "Rather than ensuring security, they are occupied with harassing innocent people." Asey also remarked that the Taliban's intelligence directorate has been unsuccessful in ensuring safety, and instead has been concentrating on arresting Afghan women and girls.
The Afghanistan Freedom Front, responding to the Western Kabul attack, condemned international and regional terrorist groups for perpetuating "the brutal slaughter of the Afghan people in collusion with the Taliban”.
The National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan highlighted that the explosions in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif starkly contradict the Taliban's security assurances, calling their claims a “lie”.
Former Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar described the attacks as politically motivated violence against innocent civilians not involved in any conflict. He urged the Afghan population and the international community to unite against this grievous crime and hold those responsible accountable.
Bismillah Taban, a former security official, alleged that the Taliban orchestrated attacks on civilians to distract public attention from their ongoing abduction and hostage-taking of women.
Aref Rahmani, a former member of the Afghan Parliament, characterised these recent attacks as an ongoing massacre of the Hazara community.
The explosions in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday have brought forth intense scrutiny. The Taliban police spokesperson in Kabul reported at least two fatalities and twelve injuries in the Dasht-e Barchi area. The state-controlled television, quoting Khalid Zadran, attributed the Kabul explosion to a hand grenade. However, eyewitness accounts provided to Afghanistan International suggest a higher casualty count than the Taliban's official figures.
As of now, the Taliban has not commented on the Mazar-i-Sharif explosion, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.
