March 07, 2020
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah visited the victims of the deadly shooting in Afghanistan’s capital on Friday which claimed the lives of over 32 people and wounded over 58. The attack took place on a memorial ceremony marking the death anniversary of Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari, with senior Afghan leader Abdullah Abdullah himself in attendance along with several other Afghan politicians, when some unidentified gunmen opened fire. Afghan Taliban’s official spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid immediately issued a clarification on Twitter, saying that the attack in Kabul on the gathering has no linkages with the Taliban. However, hours later, Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.
It is the first major attack in the Afghan capital since the US signed the peace deal with the Taliban last week. The victims were lucky enough to be near the Jinnah Hospital where the injured were immediately taken for treatment.
The hospital was donated by Pakistan in April 2019 and is one of the three major health care facilities built and funded by Pakistan as its contribution to reconstruction efforts in the war-ravaged country. Named after the founder of Pakistan, the Muhammad Ali Jinnah Hospital took 12 years to finish at a cost of more than $24 million.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was among the first who condemned the attack as a ‘crime against humanity’ and an attack on the unity of the Afghan people. While Pakistan has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack and urged all the parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
