Bomber in Afghanistan kills 14
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide
bomber carried out an attack near Kabul’s
airport in Afghanistan on Sunday killing 14
people, and narrowly missing the country’s
vice president who was returning home after
living in Turkey for over a year, security
officials said.
Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior
Ministry, said the blast occurred near Kabul
International Airport shortly after the
convoy of the controversial vice president
had just left the airport.
Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, a former Uzbek
warlord, and his entourage were unharmed,
said Danish.
Danish said that 14 people, including both
civilians and military forces, were killed in
the attack and 50 others wounded.
The Islamic States group’s local affiliate
claimed responsibility for the attack on its
Amaaq News Agency website, claiming it
had killed and wounded over 115 people.
In a statement from the presidential palace,
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani strongly
condemned the attack.
Dostum had been undergoing medical
treatment in Turkey and is now well and
ready to resume work, said presidential
spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri.
Dostum left Afghanistan in 2017 after the
attorney general's office launched an
investigation into allegations that his
followers had tortured and sexually abused
a former ally turned political rival. He has
since reportedly been barred by the
government from returning to Afghanistan.
It was not immediately clear whether
Dostum will now face any charges.
“The judiciary in Afghanistan is an
independent body and will carry out its
duties and responsibilities as it deems
appropriate,” said an official, speaking on
condition of anonymity because he was not
authorized to comment on the issue.
Dostum, accused of war crimes committed
after the fall of the Taliban government in
2001, has also been criticized by the United
States for human rights abuses.
bomber carried out an attack near Kabul’s
airport in Afghanistan on Sunday killing 14
people, and narrowly missing the country’s
vice president who was returning home after
living in Turkey for over a year, security
officials said.
Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior
Ministry, said the blast occurred near Kabul
International Airport shortly after the
convoy of the controversial vice president
had just left the airport.
Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, a former Uzbek
warlord, and his entourage were unharmed,
said Danish.
Danish said that 14 people, including both
civilians and military forces, were killed in
the attack and 50 others wounded.
The Islamic States group’s local affiliate
claimed responsibility for the attack on its
Amaaq News Agency website, claiming it
had killed and wounded over 115 people.
In a statement from the presidential palace,
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani strongly
condemned the attack.
Dostum had been undergoing medical
treatment in Turkey and is now well and
ready to resume work, said presidential
spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri.
Dostum left Afghanistan in 2017 after the
attorney general's office launched an
investigation into allegations that his
followers had tortured and sexually abused
a former ally turned political rival. He has
since reportedly been barred by the
government from returning to Afghanistan.
It was not immediately clear whether
Dostum will now face any charges.
“The judiciary in Afghanistan is an
independent body and will carry out its
duties and responsibilities as it deems
appropriate,” said an official, speaking on
condition of anonymity because he was not
authorized to comment on the issue.
Dostum, accused of war crimes committed
after the fall of the Taliban government in
2001, has also been criticized by the United
States for human rights abuses.
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