‘IS claims responsibility for deadly Afghan bombing’

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed to have carried out a deadly suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday that killed at least 33 people and injured more than 100, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said, in what, if verified, would be the first major attack claimed by the group in the country.

“Who claimed responsibility for horrific attack in Nangarhar on Saturday? The Taliban did not claim responsibility for the attack, Daesh (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack,” President Ghani said on a visit to Badakhshan. A person purporting to be an IS spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack in a call to AFP and in an online posting, although the claims could not be immediately verified. However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied responsibility. The militants have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets since Washington backpedalled on plans to shrink the US force in Afghanistan this year by nearly half.

On April 10, a suicide car bomber killed three civilians in an attack targeting a NATO convoy in Jalalabad. In the remote mountainous northeast province of Badakhshan, Taliban fighters killed 18 Afghan soldiers, including some who were beheaded, after storming an army outpost a week ago.

The pre-dawn raid in the Jurm district of Badakhshan province on April 10 marked a grim setback for Afghan forces, set to face their first fighting season in which they battle insurgents without full NATO support.

NATO’s combat mission formally ended in December but a small follow-up foreign force has stayed on to train and support local security forces. President Barack Obama last month announced a delay in US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. Neighbouring Pakistan also condemned the suicide attack saying such assaults have no justification under any circumstances.

“Pakistan condemns the deadly terrorist attack in Jalalabad this morning in which many precious lives were lost and a large number (of people) were injured,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement. It said such cowardly and indiscriminate attacks against civilians have no justification under any circumstances. “We send our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” it said. The attack came amid Afghan army chief General Sher Mohammad Karimi’s Pakistan visit to discuss security matters.

Karmi was the chief guest at the passing out parade of army cadets at premier Pakistan Military Academy Kakul. He is the first Afghan army chief invited for the occasion. Six Afghan army cadets are also passing out for the first after getting training, as part of increased military cooperation between the two neighbours.